DA 







Class. 
Book- 



THE 

GRAND JUNCTION 

RAILWAY COMPANION 

TO 

LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, and BIRMINGHAM; 

AND 

GUIDE: 

CONTAINING 

AN ACCOUNT OF EVERY THING WORTHY THE ATTENTION OF 

THE TRAVELLER UPON THE LINE; 

INCLUDING A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF EVERY PART 

OF THE RAIL-ROAD; 

OF THE NOBLEMEN OR GENTLEMEN'S SEATS 

WHICH MAY BE SEEN FROM IT; 

AND OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF IMPORTANCE IN ITS 

NEIGHBOURHOOD. 

DEDICATED (BY PERMISSION) TO THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS 
OF THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY. 



• 



BY AMTETinS FBElElLOTGo 



LIVERPOOL: 

PUBLISHED BY HENRY LACEY, 64, BOLD-STREET, 

AND SOLD BY THE OTHER BOOKSELLERS ; 

ALSO BY BANCKS AND CO., G. SIMMS, AND J. AND J. THOMSON, AND THE 

OTHER BOOKSELLERS, MANCHESTER; WRIGHTSOX & WEBB, 

AND THE OTHER BOOKSELLERS, BIRMINGHAM; 

AND CHARLES TILT, LONDON. 

183 7. 



D. MARPLES AND CO., PRINTERS, LIVERPOOL. 



. 









TO 

JOHN MOSS, ESQ., CHAIRMAN; 

AND TO 

THE DIRECTORS 



OF THE 

(L 

GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY; 



THIS WOEK IS 



(BY PERMISSION) 



MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 



BY 



THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT, 



THE AUTHOR, 



PREFACE. 



I have been compelled rather precipitately to 
send this Volume forth to the Public; — the 
necessity has arisen from the appearance of 
another work with a similar title. 

This Work has been repeatedly taken for 
mine ; * and containing as it does numerous 
errors, f it was calculated to do me much injury 
in the estimation of the Public. In self-defence, 
therefore, I was compelled to bring out mine 
earlier than I originally intended. 

From the report of my Publisher, I find I 
have now to return thanks to the Booksellers of 
Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, in 
particular, for the liberal manner in which they 
have patronised my Volume ; they having 
ordered, before the publication, five-sixths of 
the edition, which consists of 3,000 copies. As 

* In one instance, a most respectable Firm in Liverpool 
ordered twelve copies under this impression. 

f The following is a specimen. On page 51 in Mr. 
Cornish's book, the public are informed, that Warrington 
Bridge " has twenty arches, which are sixty-five feet 
span, and the same number of feet high." When the 
fact is, it has but twelve arches, nine of which are 
but sixteen feet span, and twenty- eight feet high. 



IV. 



I cannot assume to myself any peculiar merit in 
the compilation, I am obliged to regard this fact 
as an expression of their feeling as to the pro- 
priety of a publisher bringing out a work under 
the title of another, which has been previously 
extensively advertised ; and I doubt not but this 
feeling will be participated in by the Public. 

In executing the work, I have received the 
greatest kindness from the Directors of the 
Grand Junction Railway Company, and every 
facility for gaining information has been afforded 
me, for which I return my sincere thanks. It 
would, however, be ungrateful in me not par- 
ticularly to mention John Moss, Esq. and N. 
D. Bold, Esq., who have at some personal 
trouble enabled me to acquire facts which other- 
wise could not have been obtained. To Joseph 
Locke, Esq., the able Engineer under whose 
direction the Grand Junction Railway has been 
completed, I am also indebted for any pecu- 
liarity which distinguishes the Map from those 
usually compiled, and also for much informa- 
tion contained in the work. The gratifying duty 
of returning thanks and acknowledging obliga- 
tions being accomplished, I take my leave of 
the Public for the present, hoping my little 
volume will not disappoint its expectation. 



F REELING'S RAILWAY COMPANIONS, 



In progress, and will be published, by H. Lacey, as soon 
as the operations of the various Railways are so far ad- 
vanced as for a time to be fixed for their opening : — 

Freeling's London and Birmingham Railway Com- 
panion, in considerable progress. 

London and Southampton. 

Manchester, Leeds, Selby, and Hull. 

Manchester and Birmingham. 

Great Western, London to Bristol, in 

considerable progress. 

Maryport, Carlisle, and Newcastle, in 

considerable progress. 

Newcastle, Shields, and Sunderland. 

Sunderland and Durham. 

Birmingham and Gloucester, &c. &c. &c. 

The general plan of these Volumes is similar to the 
Grand Junction Railway Companion; upon which such 
improvements will be made as the Author's experience in 
the work may suggest. 

N. B. — Railway Companions for every other Line will be 
published, as soon as their state of progression will allow. 



ERRATA. 

The only errata of any importance are the following : — 
For E. J. Lyttleton, Esq., read Lord Hatherton; in one 
case also the H has been left out of his Lordship's name. In 
the account of Aston Viaduct, for eight read ten arches. At 
p. 121, line 12, for " to the Kennel," read "to a Meeting." 



ACCOUNT. 



It will not be considered necessary to go into 
any detail of the history or progress of the Line, 
from Liverpool to Manchester and Warrington, as 
separate works have long since made the public 
acquainted with everything interesting regarding 
it. A slight sketch of the various applications 
to Parliament for power to complete the Grand 
Junction portion of the line will, however, not be 
uninteresting, especially as it exhibits the diffi- 
culties which invariably attend the promotion of 
a public good, when opposed to private interest. 
It is too often to be regretted, that the chief* 
opposition to the efforts of those public-spirited 
individuals who originate such works, arises from 
persons whose real interests are not affected, but 
whose temper or caprice raise up a host of evils 
which exist only in their perverted imaginations. 
Men who propose and carry through, without 
regard to evil or to good report, such works as 
the Grand Junction Railway — who have over- 



2 PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 

come, not only the opposition which the stupen- 
dous operations of nature present, but the more 
stubborn and unbending resistance of haughty 
and interested minds — are far more worthy of 
the laurel crown than the victor of a hundred 
fights. The one confers on his country honour 
and prosperity — crime, devastation, woe, wail- 
ing, and death attend the career of the other; 
which, at the best, ends in the attainment of but 
equivocal benefits. 

In 1823 the project of the Liverpool and 
Manchester Railroad suggested to some gentle- 
men in Birmingham the idea of a Railroad to 
connect Lancashire and the north with the south 
of England. To effect this object, Mr. R. 
Spooner, Mr. Sparrow, and Mr. Foster came 
over to Liverpool, and, when there, arranged a 
Committee of Liverpool and Birmingham gen- 
tlemen to carry forward the project ; and in 1824 
an application was made to Parliament for per- 
mission to make a Railroad from the Cheshire 
side of the Mersey, opposite Liverpool, to Bir- 
mingham, 

This Bill was most violently opposed by the 
canal and landed interest, and was lost on stand- 
ing orders in the House of Commons. In 1826 
another application was made, which shared the 
same fate. 



PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 3 

It would appear that, disheartened by the 
opposition encountered, the Committee relin- 
quished the prosecution of their first project; 
and all public operations, with a view to effect 
this national work, lay in abeyance until just 
before the opening of the Liverpool and Man- 
chester Line in 1830. Meetings were then held 
in Liverpool and Birmingham, and another line 
proposed. 

It was now arranged that the Liverpool Com- 
mittee should apply for a line from Liverpool to 
Chorlton, in Cheshire, and the Birmingham 
Committee for a line from Birmingham to Chorl- 
ton. It is not necessary to insert the particulars 
of the prospectus then issued ; suffice it to say 
that, after a most violent opposition, the bill 
from Birmingham to Chorlton was ultimately 
lost. 

The bill from Liverpool to Chorlton was but 
a little more fortunate, for, having passed its 
first stages, it was lost by the dissolution of Par- 
liament on the Reform question. The great 
opposition which the Committee had to encoun- 
ter, in their progress with this bill, was made by 
the Mersey and Sankey Canal Companies, on 
the ground that the bridge which it was pro- 
posed to erect across the Mersey would impede 
the navigation of the river : and when we con- 



4 PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 

sider the number of persons connected with 
these companies, the extensive ramifications of 
their connexions, in addition to the ground of 
opposition being one purely of theory, and, 
therefore, more open to debate, we may form 
some idea of the difficulties the Committee 
had to contend with. As this opposition was, 
however, overcome, — as it must be frivolous, 
though vexatious, — we trust that it will not be 
repeated when a project of which we have yet 
to speak comes before Parliament. 

In 1831 preparations for applying to Parlia- 
ment were again made ; but the fate of previous 
attempts, and the opposition threatened, caused 
the Committee and subscribers to defer further 
proceedings that year. 

In 1832 a meeting was held in Liverpool, 
John Moss, Esq., in the chair, when it was 
determined that one bill only, and that from 
Birmingham to Warrington, from which place 
there was a Railroad to Liverpool and Man- 
chester, should be applied for ; that the share- 
holders in the two concerns should be invited to 
unite in one, and the management be transferred 
to Liverpool. This was ultimately done, and 
Mr. Rastrick was appointed engineer for the 
Birmingham, and Mr. Stephenson for the Liver- 



PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 5 

pool end of the proposed line; and a bill to 
effect this project was, after some short time, 
prepared for Parliament. 

The whole management of the concern had, 
however, fallen into the hands of Liverpool gen- 
tlemen, who had had experience in the Liver- 
pool and Manchester Railroad, both in obtain- 
ing the Acts of Parliament, and making a 
railroad. To the experience of these gentlemen 
in the latter object are the subscribers indebted 
for the extraordinary fact, that the 82 \ miles of 
their line (which is accomplished with a degree 
of solidity and finish at present unrivalled) have 
cost them but about £1,500,000, while the works 
on the Liverpool line, which is but 31 miles, 
have cost two-thirds, or perhaps more, of the 
same amount ; an expenditure, be it recollected, 
not recklessly or carelessly incurred, but one 
which was necessary to obtain the experience 
and information which will now enable others 
to execute similar works at so great a reduction 
of cost. Every railroad company which may in 
future exist is infinitely indebted to the Liver- 
pool and Manchester Company ; and if the feel- 
ings and principles which regulate the actions 
of individuals towards each other, when their 
own affairs alone are concerned, could be brought 



6 PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 

to bear upon their operations when incorporated 
in public bodies, committees, boards, &c, &c, 
the proprietors of every railroad would contri- 
bute handsomely to a compensation fund, to 
repay some of the enormous expense incurred, 
in their experimental outlay, by the shareholders 
of the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad ; for, 
as their intelligent and talented secretary ob- 
serves, in his able pamphlet, "In matters of 
Retail, no less than in the grand outline and 
structure of their work, the Liverpool and Man- 
chester Railway Company have found, that on 
them has devolved the task of making experi- 
ments for the rest of the world."* Alas ! I fear 
this act of justice will never be accomplished. 
There is no chivalry in " Companies." 

The anxiety of the gentlemen into whose 
hands the prosecution of the project had now 
been consigned was, to conciliate and do away 
with the opposition of the landed and canal 
interests; this they were most successful in ac- 
complishing, and that too with a very small 
sacrifice of money, as compensation for ideal 

* I cannot lose the opportunity of recommending all per- 
sons who are interested in railroads to read this pamphlet; 
for, in addition to the most elaborate details, it contains a 
most popular and easy-to-be-understood illustration of the 
mechanical principles applicable to railways. (See "An 
Account of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, by 
Henry Booth, Esq.") 



PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 7 

and real injury to landed proprietors ; and the 
bill for making the Railroad from Birmingham to 
Warrington obtained the royal assent on 6th May, 
1833, after having experienced a phenomenon in 
the history of railroads, the like of which never 
has been seen, and, probably, never will be seen 
again — the bill having passed both Houses of 
Parliament almost unopposed, without putting 
the Company to the expense of a single fee to 
counsel. The conducting of the case was left 
entirely to Mr. Swift, of Liverpool, the solicitor 
for the bill, who thought it prudent to retain 
counsel, in case of opposition, but the briefs 
were never delivered. The directors aided Mr. 
Swift in the removal of difficulties, by personal 
applications to all parties who felt themselves 
injured, or likely to be so ; and thus, by tact, 
prudence, and perseverance, brought the pro- 
jected bill through Parliament. 

In 1834 an amended bill was obtained, to 
alter the line through Staffordshire, and another 
to purchase the Warrington and Newton Rail- 
road, which is now, therefore, the property of 
the Grand Junction Railway Company. 

At the commencement of the present year, 
1837, notice was given for a bill to alter the 
line to Liverpool, by forming a Railroad from 
Daresbury, in Cheshire. It is proposed to carry 






8 PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 

it over the Mersey and Irwell Canal, and to 
cross the river Mersey at Fiddler's Ferry; from 
thence to proceed near Penketh Lodge to Rain 
Hill Stoops, and, leaving the grounds of Halstead 
a little to the south-west, join the Liverpool and 
Manchester Line at the bottom of the Whiston 
inclined plane. Thus six miles will be saved, 
and three inclined planes will be avoided, a most 
desirable object, for, independent of the time 
saved, the prodigal waste of steam power which 
is caused by these inclines will be unnecessary. 

We have before stated the names of the two 
eminent engineers who drew the original plan 
of the Railroad, as carried through Parliament 
in 1833. It devolved, however, on Mr. Locke, 
to carry their plans into operation, and to make 
such alterations as circumstances suggested as 
improvements. To this gentleman belongs the 
honour of completing this stupendous work, 
within a few days of the time calculated on ; 
and too much credit cannot be conferred on 
him, and the contractors, for the masterly man- 
ner in which it has been accomplished, and the 
punctuality with which it has been completed. 
The directors never calculated on opening the 
line until June, 1837, and on the 4th of July 
they received the first sum for the carriage of 
passengers. 



PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 9 

The opening of this national undertaking 
was unattended by any display. This did not 
arise from apathy on the part of the public, as 
the thousands that waited at many of the 
stations for the arrival of the first trains which 
passed along the line fully testified ; but out of 
respect to the memory of the late Mr. Huskisson, 
who met with the fatal accident which caused 
his death at the opening of the Liverpool and 
Manchester Line. The chairman, John Moss, 
Esq., and deputy chairman, Charles Lawrence, 
Esq., having been present at that melancholy 
event, requested, on this account, that a public 
opening should be dispensed with ; and we are 
happy in finding that this sensitive propriety 
of feeling — this respect for the memory of the 
deceased, was responded to in the breasts of 
their brother directors. 

On the 3d of July the directors, the secretary, 
and some of their friends, rode along the whole 
line, to inspect the works, and returned on the 
4th ; having discharged their duty to the pub- 
lic, and paid a marked tribute of respect to 
the great man whose name will ever be so 
lamentably associated with the history of rail- 
roads in this country. 

We have thus traced this great work from its 
earliest projection unto its co m pi e ^ on# In 



10 PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT. 

collecting information, we have made frequent 
inquiries, and find that the work has been 
finished with fewer accidents than usually 
attend such great undertakings; this must be 
equally gratifying to the directors and to the 
public. 

We shall now give an account of such 
objects as we have deemed specially worthy of 
notice on the line. Some of the seats of the 
nobility and gentry are opposite a portion of the 
Railroad which passes through a cutting ; it is, 
however, not the less interesting to the intelligent 
traveller, to be aware that he is passing through 
a country which affords scope for such establish- 
ments; and as we have made the mile-posts the 
point from which to direct the attention, there will 
be no difficulty in imparting the information. 

The towns in the vicinity of the Railroad 
form an important feature in its statistics, as 
some calculation of the probable success of such 
undertakings may be made, from a knowledge 
of their population and employments; as the 
moral character of a people may in some mea- 
sure be determined by the number of their 
churches and institutions; to these, therefore, 
we have paid particular attention. 



THE GRAND JUNCTION, 

AND THE 



We shall proceed to give the regulations 
which equally apply to the two Companies, and 
then the time of starting and regulations pecu- 
liar to the Grand Junction Railway Company. 

GENERAL REGULATIONS 

At the Principal Station, Lime-street, Liverpool. 

Coaches and cars with passengers and heavy luggage must 
drive in at the north gateway (nearest London-road), and, 
having set down their passengers, must depart immedi* 
ately. 

Passengers in coaches and cars, without luggage, or with 
light packages, which they can conveniently carry through 
the Booking-offices without the assistance of porters, are re- 
quested to set down at the office doors, in Lime-street. 

Passengers on foot cannot be admitted through the car- 
riage gateway, and no omnibus will be admitted through the 
gateway, without the special licence of the Directors, and 
subject to such regulations as they may impose. 

Time of Departure. — The gateway and office doors 
for the admission of passengers will be closed precisely at 
the several specified times of departure, and no person can 
be admitted afterwards, for that train. 

Carriages and Horses. — Gentlemen's carnages, in- 
tended to be conveyed by the trains, are required to be in 
the yard fifteen minutes before the time of departure. Car- 
riage horses, accompanying carriages to be conveyed by the 
trains, will be received at the station in Lime-street. All 
other horses must be taken up and set down at the Edge- 
hill station, at the top of the New Tunnel. Carriages to be 
conveyed with the trains, will also be received at the Edge- 



12 REGULATIONS. 

hill Station; and both horses and carriages are required to 
be at the said station ten minutes before the hour of depar- 
ture from Lime-street. 

At the Station at Edge-hill. 

The gates of the station at Edge-hill will be closed five 
minutes after the hours of departure from Lime-street, and 
no passengers can be admitted to book after time ; passen- 
gers having previously taken their places, and producing 
their tickets, will be admitted till the train departs. 

Regulations for Arrivals. — Persons arriving by any 
of the trains leave the Lime-street Station by the South 
gateway, nearest Ranelagh-place, or, till that gateway be 
completed, by a temporary gateway at the corner of Glou- 
cester-street. 

Coaches and cars specially licensed by the Company, and 
subject to their regulations, will be admitted into the yard 
to wait the arrival of the trains. But no carriage for hire 
can be admitted, unless so licensed; and the owners of 
coaches and cars, desirous to attend the arrivals, must make 
application at the Railway Office for a licence for that pur- 
pose. 

REGULATIONS 

Of the Grand Junction Railroad Company. 

Booking. — There will be no booking places, except at 
the Company's Offices at the respective stations. Each 
Booking Ticket for the first class trains is numbered to cor- 
respond with the seat taken. The places by the mixed 
trains are not numbered. 

Luggage. — Each passenger's luggage will be placed on 
the roof of the coach in which he has taken his place ; carpet 
bags and small luggage may be placed underneath the seat 
opposite to that which the owner occupies. No charge for 
bona fide luggage belonging to the passenger under lOOlbs. 
weight; above that weight, a charge will be made at the rate 
of Id. per lb. for the whole distance. The attention of 
travellers is requested to the legal notice exhibited at the 
different stations, respecting the limitation of the Company's 
liabilities for the loss or damage of luggage. 

Gentlemen's Carriages and Horses. — Gentlemen's 
carriages and horses must be at the stations at least a quarter 
of an hour before the time of departure. A supply of trucks 
will be kept at all the principal stations on the line; but to pre- 



REGULATIONS. 13 

vent disappointment, it is recommended that previous notice 
should be given, when practicable, at the station where they 
may be required. No charge for landing or embarking 
carriages or horses on any part of the line. 

Road Stations. — Passengers intending to join the trains 
at any of the stopping-places, are desired to be in good time, 
as the train will leave each station as soon as ready, without 
reference to the time stated in the above table, the main 
object being to perform the whole journey as expeditiously 
as possible. Passengers will be booked only conditionally 
upon there being room on the arrival of the trains, and they 
will have a preference of seats in the order in which they 
are booked. All persons are requested to get into and alight 
from the coaches invariably on the left side, as the only 
certain means of preventing accidents, from trains passing 
in an opposite direction. 

Conductors, Guards, and Porters. — Every train is 
provided with guards, and a conductor, who is responsible 
for the order and regularity of the journey. The Company's 
porters will load and unload the luggage, and put it into or 
upon any omnibus or other carriage at any of the stations. 
No fees or gratuities allowed to conductors, guards, porters, 
or other persons in the service of the Company. 

Smoking, Selling of Liquors, &c. — No smoking will 
be allowed in any of the coaches, even with the consent of 
the passengers. No person will be allowed to sell 
liquors or eatables of any kind upon the line. The Com- 
pany earnestly hope that the public will co-operate with 
them in enforcing this regulation, as it will be the means of 
removing a cause of delay, and will greatly diminish the 
chance of accident. 

Parcels. — The charge for parcels, including booking 
and delivery, will be from Is. 6d. upwards, according to 
size and weight 

TRAVELLING TO LONDON, &c. 

Arrangements have been made with respectable coach 
proprietors, by which passengers may secure places in 
Liverpool and Manchester for London, and other parts 
south of Birmingham, by coaches, which will await the ar- 
rival of the trains at Birmingham; and the delay arising 
from a change of conveyance in the despatch of parcels is 
obviated by their being booked throughout, and sent in 
closed bags. 

c 



14 TIME OF STARTING. 

Every assistance will be given by the Company's officers, 
to protect the public from the imposition and annoyance in 
cars and omnibuses attending the trains, some of which 
have been already excluded for improper conduct. 



TIME OF STARTING. 


FROM 


ARRIVAL AT 


LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER. 


BIRMINGHAM. 


H. M. 


H. M. 


1st Class.. 6 30 o'clock A.M. . 


. . 11 5 o'clock A.M. 


Mixed ... 8 30 „ A.M. . 


. . 2 „ P.M. 


1st Class.. 11 30 „ A.M. . 


. . 4 5 „ P.M. 


1st Class.. 2 30 „ P.M. . 


. . 7 5 „ P.M. 


Mixed ... 4 30 „ P.M. . 


. . 10 „ P.M. 


1st Class.. 6 30 „ P.M. . 


. . 11 5 „ P.M. 



FROM ARRIVAL AT 

BIRMINGHAM. LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER. 

H. M. H. M. 

1st Class ..70 o'clock A.M. ... 11 30 o'clock A.M. 

Mixed ... 8 30 „ A.M. ... 1 45 „ P.M. 

1st Class.. 11 30 „ A.M. ... 40 „ P.M. 

1st Class.. 2 30 „ P.M. ... 70 „ P.M. 

Mixed ... 4 30 „ P.M. ... 9 45 „ P.M. 

1st Class.. 7 „ P.M. ... 11 30 „ P.M. 

N.B. — The First-class Trains only take up and set down 
passengers at the six principal Stations, which are distin- 
guished in the Table by being printed in roman characters. 

The Mixed Trains will also take up and set down Passen- 
gers to or from any part of the Grand Junction Railway, at 
all the usual stopping places on the Liverpool and Man- 
chester Railway. An allowance is included in the above 
Table of five minutes for all the Trains at the principal 
Stations, and of three minutes for the Mixed Trains, at the 
intermediate stopping places. 

The First Class Trains will consist of coaches carrying 
six inside, and of mails carrying four inside, one compart- 
ment of which is convertible into a bed-carriage, if required. 
The Mixed Trains will consist of both First and Second 
Class coaches, the latter affording complete protection from 
the weather, and differing only from the First Class in hav- 
ing no lining, cushions, or divisions of the compartments. 
Both kinds have seats on the roof, for the accommodation 
of those who prefer riding outside. 



ACCOUNT OF FARES. 15 

FARES 

From Liverpool or Manchester to Birmingham, or vice versa. 

First Class C oach, six inside, whether in First Class £. s. d. 

or in Mixed Trains 1 

Mail Coach, four inside 1 

Bed-carriage, in Mail Coach 2 

Second Class Coach 

Children under Ten Years of Age, half-price. 

Gentlemen's Carriage, four wheels 3 

Ditto ditto two wheels 2 

Passengers, if belonging to and riding in Gentle- 
men's Carriages, each 

Servants, ditto ditto, each 

Grooms in charge of Horses, each 

One Horse 1 

Two Horses 2 ] 

Three Horses 3 

Dogs 

A WOLVERHAMPTON TRAIN 

"Will start daily at the following hours : from Wolverhamp- 
ton Station to Birmingham at Eight o'clock in the Morning, 
and from Birmingham to Wolverhampton at Seven o'clock 
in the Evening. 

Fares from Wolverhampton Station to Birmingham. 

Close Carriage. Open. Close Carriage. Open. 



1 





5 











14 

















Id 





10 





10 





10 





10 





10 





3 






To Willenhali .... Is. Od. 0s. 6d. 
„ James' sBridge 16 9 
„ Bescot Bridge 16 9 



To XewtonRoad . . 2s. Od. Is. Od. 

„ Perry Bar 2 6 16 

„ Birmingham.. 2 6 16 



Fares from Birmingham to Wolverhampton Station. 

Close Carriage. Open. Close Carriage. Open. 



To Perry Bar Is. Od. 0s. 6d. 

„ Xewton Road 16 9 
„ BescottBiidge 2 10 



To James's Bridge . . 2s. Od. Is. Od. 

„ Willenhali 2 6 1 6 

„ Wolverhampton 2 6 16 

A WARRINGTON TRAIN 

Will start daily from Warrington to Liverpool and Man- 
chester at Eight o' clock in the Morning. 

ON SUNDAYS, 

The four First Class Trains only, with the addition of 
Second Class Coaches, will start at the same hours as on 
the week days, but will not take up and set down passen- 
gers at any but at the six principal stopping places. 



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18 LIVERPOOL TO NEWTON. 

JOURNEY, &c. &c. 

The traveller, having taken his place in the 
Grand Junction Carriages at the Station at 
Lime-street, will immediately proceed through 
the Great Tunnel, which was opened in August, 
1836. It is 2,230 yards long, 17 feet high, and 
25 feet wide, and cost one hundred and fifty 
thousand pounds ; the carriages are drawn up 
by means of a stationary engine at Edge- 
hill ; the steam to supply this engine is fur- 
nished by boilers situated at a considerable 
distance, viz. at the area from whence the loco- 
motive engines formerly started. This commu- 
nication and its machinery are well worthy of 
the traveller's notice, if he has time to examine 
them. (See Liverpool and Manchester Railway 
Companion.) 

Emerging from the tunnel, we arrive at the 
Edge-hill station, at which is the stationary 
engine before-mentioned. 

As it is not our object to give a minute 
account of the Railroad from Liverpool to 
Manchester, we shall just give a rapid sketch 
of it, referring our readers to the " Liverpool 
and Manchester Railway Companion," for more 
detailed information respecting the road, seats, 
villas, &c. ; and at the end of the book we shall 
give a Guide to Liverpool, Manchester, and 
Birmingham, as stated in our Prospectus. 

Immediately after the trains leave the Edge-hill 
station (at which place the locomotive engine 
is attached), two lines of rails will be observed 



LIVERPOOL TO NEWTON. 19 

turning to the right ; they lead to the Crown- 
street station, situated at the end of the small 
tunnel, now, we believe, used principally for 
coals, and to the large tunnel which commu- 
nicates with the Company's warehouses at Wap- 
ping. The tunnel through which the trains 
with merchandise pass, is 2,250 yards in length, 
22 feet wide, and about 16 high, and rises 1 in 
48. The small one parallel to it, formerly used 
by the carriage trains from Liverpool, is 291 
yards long, 15 feet high, and 12 wide; it has an 
inclination of half an inch to the yard. In the 
area, at the head of these tunnels, are the sta- 
tionary engines, employed to draw the waggons 
up the large one and down the smaller, the 
former being an inclined plane downwards, the 
other upwards ; here also are the boilers which 
supply the steam to the engine at the Edge-hill 
station. A little further on we arrive at the 

WAVERTREE-LANE STATION, 

which is If miles from Liverpool; the seat on 
the left is the residence of Charles Lawrence, 
Esq. ; shortly after, the carriages pass through 
the 

OLIVE MOUNT EXCAVATION. 

This is cut through the solid rock, and is in 
some places 70 feet below the fields above. 
Here is an inclined plane, the declination of 
which is about four feet in the mile, and causes 
a decided acceleration of speed. The next 
place we arrive at is the 



20 LIVERPOOL TO NEWTON. 

BROAD GREEN STATION, 
which is little more than 3| miles from Liver- 
pool. 

A little further on is the Broad Green Em- 
bankment, which is near two miles in length, 
and in some places 50 feet above the valley ; 
from hence may be seen many seats of the 
nobility and gentry. * The view here is worthy 
* of the traveller's attention. After having crossed 
this embankment, we arrive successively at the 
Roby-lane and Huyton Stations. The lat- 
ter is 5f miles from Liverpool. Proceeding for 
one mile further, the Whiston inclined plane 
commences ; at the foot of which is a stationary 
engine to assist the trains when necessary. This 
acclivity rises eighty-two feet in one mile-and-a 
half, and very sensibly decreases the speed of 
the ascending, and of course accelerates that of 
the descending carriages. Having arrived at 
the summit of the incline, we proceed along the 
Rainhill Level for about two miles, and then 
descend* the Sutton incline, which is very 
quickly perceived by the increased velocity of 
the carnages. (It was at the Rainhill Level that 
the engines, with their tenders, contended for 
the prize of £500, which was gained by Mr. 

* Every information respecting this Railroad to Man- 
chester, including the charges from every station, are in 
the Author's other work, " The Liverpool and Manchester 
Railway Companion," which could not he inserted here 
without much enlarging the book. Those who wish for 
that information, can purchase it separately at Mr. Lacey's, 
64, Bold-street, Liverpool; Wrightson & Webb's, New-street, 
Birmingham; and at the principal Booksellers in Manches- 
ter; price Is. 



LIVERPOOL TO NEWTON. 21 

Stephenson's engine, the Rocket.*) We now 
pass under an iron bridge of two arches, over 
which passes the Railway from St. Helens to 
Runcorn Gap; the engine-house, for the assistant 
engine, is on the right, at the bottom of the 
incline ; the railroad to the left is the St. Helens 
Junction Line, and close to it is the 

ST. HELENS JUNCTION STATION. 

We now proceed across Parr Moss. The 
township in which it is situated was formerly 
the property of the family of Catherine Parr, 
wife of Henry VIII. The 

COLLIN'S GREEN STATION 

is the next we arrive at ; and shortly after cross 
the Sankey Embankment. Burton Wood is on 
the right : Newton Race-course is on the left, 
and may be discovered by the Grand Stand, 
which from hence is a conspicuous object. The 
Sankey Embankment, over which the traveller 
has been passing since he left the post marked 
13| miles, is the heaviest on the line, being, in 
some places, 70 feet above the level of the canal. 
The viaduct is built on piles ; the road is 25 feet 
wide, and is supported by 9 arches of 50 feet 
span ; the work cost £45,000. We now arrive 
at the Sankey Viaduct; it is an object well 
worthy of the traveller's attention. The Sankey 
Canal flows beneath it ; this canal was the first 
ever cut in England. 

* For the further particulars, see " Liverpool and Man- 
chester Railroad Companion." 



22 LIVERPOOL TO NEWTON. 

A quarter of a mile further on, we shall 
arrive at 

THE NEWTON JUNCTION STATION. 

If the reader is occupied in tracing the pro- 
gress of the carriages, he had better turn to 
page 28, on which commences the Grand 
Junction Line. In the mean time, as it is 
possible the carnages may stop here, we 
shall give a hasty glance along the road to 
Manchester. 

Proceeding towards Manchester, then, we 
cross the Sandymain's Embankment, and arrive 
at Newton Bridge. The railroad here is at an 
elevation of 40 feet from the road below ; the 
bridge which carries it across this valley has 
4 arches, each of 30 feet span. After passing 
this, we arrive at 

THE NEWTON BRIDGE STATION, 

distant from Liverpool 1 6 miles, from Manches- 
ter rather more. We shall notice the extinct 
borough of Newton when we return to the New- 
ton Junction Station, as it is not a part of our 
present plan to notice the towns on the Liver- 
pool and Manchester line. At the above sta- 
tion is the Newton Hotel and Post Office. Half 
a mile further on is 

PARK-SIDE STATION. 

This station will always be deemed worthy of 
attention, as here the late Mr. Huskisson received 
the dreadful injury which terminated in his death. 



NEWTON TO MANCHESTER. 23 

Opposite the site of the accident a white marble 
slab is let into the wall, and on it the event is 
recorded. A quarter of a mile further on we 
must direct the reader's attention to what has 
hitherto been called the Wigan Junction Rail- 
way. There is no station here ; passengers go- 
ing to Wigan get into the carriages at Parkside. 
This branch railway will shortly become of 
vast importance : it will be the grand connecting 
line between the Grand Junction Line and the 
North ; the works are nearly complete as far as 
Preston, and we expect that next year the line 
will be opened to Lancaster. We now enter the 
Great Kenyon Excavation, and proceeding along 
a slightly inclined plane, we soon pass the 

BOLTON JUNCTION STATION, 

which is only remarkable as being near to Cul- 
cheth, in which township, we are informed, one 
of our Saxon kings held a council. Across 
Brossley Embankment we are quickly conveyed 
to 

BURY LANE STATION. 

which brings us within 1 1 miles of Manchester ; 
and half a mile further we enter the dreary waste 
of Chat Moss. Some attempts at cultivation will 
be perceived — successful or not in point of profit, 
time will tell. The road across the Moss is 
perfectly safe, although, at one time, it was 
deemed scarcely possible to make it sound. 
After passing over the Moss for three miles and 
a half, the traveller will reach the Barton Moss 
Station; and 2| miles further, the 



24 NEWTON TO MANCHESTER. 

PATRICROFT STATION, 
which is not quite 5 J miles from Manchester. 

The next Station is that of Eccles, 4 J miles 
from Manchester. To the right is the village of 
Eccles, unexpectedly immortalised in history 
as the place where Mr. Huskisson breathed his 
last. To this place he was conveyed in a car- 
riage drawn by the Northumbrian, and the house 
of the Rev. Mr. Blackburn, vicar of Eccles, was 
the scene of his last agonies ; after his decease 
his remains were conveyed to Liverpool, and 
buried in St. James* Cemetery, where a splendid 
monument has been erected to his memory. 

CROSS LANE BRIDGE STATION 
is the next we come to, and is 2J miles from 
Manchester. From hence a few minutes more 
will bear us across the Irwell into the Company's 
yard at Manchester. 

For an account of Manchester, Liverpool, 
and Birmingham, see end of book. 

We shall now return to the Newton Junc- 
tion Station, where we left our readers some 
minutes since ; and here we must inform them 
that the mile-posts (from which we shall 
direct their attention to various objects) are on 
their right hand, as they proceed to Birming- 
ham, and that, although the Grand Junction 
Line in fact commences here, the posts are 
numbered from Liverpool, or, if they are not yet, 
they shortly will be : eventually there will also 
be posts on the other side, numbering from 
Birmingham. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 25 



GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY. 

Before starting on our journey, it will be well 
to give an explanation of the various abbrevia- 
tions used in the Work ; and also a few preli- 
minary ' observations. 

P. R. — Parliamentary return of livings amounting to not 
more than £l50 per year. If not mentioned in 
this return, the living is estimated at more than 
that annual sum. 

C. V. — Certified value of chapelries — from the same 
source. 

K. B. — The amount at which the living is valued at in 
the King's Books. 

Dis. — Discharged from the payment of first-fruits. 

Pop. — Population. 

To.— Town. 

Pa. — Parish. 

An. As. Val. — Annual value of the real property assessed 
in April, 1815. 



Our readers will observe, that the embank- 
ments on the Grand Junction Line are thirty 
feet wide at the level of the rails, and that the 
slope towards the base is at the least in the ratio 
of 1 \ foot perpendicular to one foot horizontal ; 
in some cases it is as 2 to 1 ; and that the incli- 
nation of the excavations are the same. The 
enormous labour that is expended upon these 
works may be imagined when we state, that in 
the present undertaking five millions five hundred 
thousand cubic yards of earth and rock have 
been cut and removed. It will easily be 
imagined that the embankments would not con- 
sume half this material ; when an overplus was 

D 



26 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



obtained, the soil was carefully removed from 
the adjoining land, then the ballast from the 
excavation was laid on the land in the folio win p; 
shape — 



MADE GROUND. 



ORIGINAL GROUND. 




the steep portion of the figure being towards 
the excavation. The soil which had previously 
been removed, was then spread over this ballast, 
and instances have been in which this surface has 
produced crops the same year as it was laid down. 
We shall endeavour to convey to our 
readers an idea of the importance of this Junc- 
tion ; and in attempting it, we cannot do better 
than adopt the words of the Directors, as 
expressed in their circular. 

" The Grand Junction Railway is 82 J miles 
in length ; it commences in Curzon-street, Bir- 
mingham, at a station adjoining that of the 
London and Birmingham Railway, and passing 
by or near Wednesbury, Walsall, Dudley, 
Bilston, Wolverhampton, Penkridge, Stafford, 
Stone, Eccleshall, Newcastle, the Potteries, 
Nantwich, Sandbach, Middlewich, Northwich, 
Preston Brook, Froclsham, Runcorn, and War- 
rington, terminates at Newton, on the Liverpool 
and Manchester Railway, by which it commu- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 27 

nicates with Liverpool and Manchester ; the dis- 
tance from Birmingham to those places 
respectively, being 97^ miles." 

" The Grand Junction Railway also forms an 
important link in the great chain of railway 
communication from London to Lancaster, a 
distance of 237 miles ; the whole of which, with 
the exception of 22 miles at the northern 
extremity, is expected to be completed in the 
course of next year." 

In conformity with our plan, we shall give 
an account of each place lying east and west of 
the line, to which the directors in their circular 
have directed attention, and whenever we think 
an omission of importance has been made, we 
shall notice it.* 

For old acquaintance sake, we shall bestow 
a few words on the extinct borough of 

NEWTON, commonly designated by topo- 
graphers, " Newton-in-Mackerfield ; " it is a 
borough by proscription, and chapelry, in the 
parish of Winwick, and the hundred of West 
Derby. It has a population of about 1,643, and 
the actual value of real property assessed in 1815, 
was £6,302. Its fairs are held Feb. 12, May 
17, July 15, and every Monday fortnight for 
cattle and sheep, and on Aug. 12, for horses, 

* If the reader is desirous of leaving for the present the 
description of the towns, to trace the road as the carriages 
proceed, he will notice that the' portion of the book in 
which the Railroad is described is printed within rules, 
with the distances marked on each side ; with this mark he 
can easily confine his attention to the Line, and what may- 
be seen near it. (See pages 29 and 36.) 



28 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

horned cattle, and toys. The living is a curacy 
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester; 
C. V. £18 9s. The chapel is dedicated to St. 
Peter : patron, Thomas Legh, Esq. 

Newton belonged to the crown in the time, of 
Edward the Confessor, and, until disfranchised 
by the Reform Bill, had returned two members 
to Parliament ever since the first year of Eliza- 
beth (1558). It is a singular fact that a 
place so long noted for political fervour, should 
never have had a contested election against the 
manorial interest until 1797. The right of 
election was vested in the free burgesses, whose 
number was about thirty-six. It has a Free 
School which is endowed, and a Sunday School 
which is well attended. This little place has 
many ancient houses, and if the traveller is 
inclined to stop at the Newton Hotel, it contains 
much that would contribute to his amusement. 
For Races, see Index. 

From Birmingham. From I/pool & Manch'r. 

NEWTON JUNCTION STATION.* + 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 14f . 2s. 6d. 
From Birmingham 82§ . 12s. 6d. 

Two hundred yards after leaving- the 
Station, is a line of railroad turning off 

* There are only six Stations at which the First Class 
Carnages stop in the journey; these are distinguished hy 
type of a different character from the rest, and hy the charge 
for First Class Carriages heing placed, in addition to the 
charge for the Second Class Carriages. Where these dis- 
tinctions are wanting, it is only a Second Class Station. 

f To Manchester and Liverpool, see page 22. 



82 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 29 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

to the left ; this is the line from Man- 
chester to Birmingham ; and for about 
the same distance the carriages travel 
along a perfect level, but here they 
begin to descend a plane. At the 15| 
mile-post, an excavation, the first on the 
Grand Junction Line, commences. We 
continue to descend what may perhaps 
be properly called the Bradley Incline, 
as the village of Bradley lies to the 
left; this is the steepest that the loco- 
motive engines travel on during the 
whole journey. It is rather more than 
three quarters of a mile in length, and 
has a descent of one inch in 85 ; at the 
post marked 15§, the steep ends, and 
a gentle declivity of 1 inch in 476, 
succeeds, which, with but little altera- 
tion, continues to Warrington ; oppo- 
site this post the Bradley excavation 
ends, and a slight embankment com- 
mences. To the left is the Vulcan 
Foundry, a red brick building; a great 
many locomotive engines are here made : 
the adjoining house belongs to the pro- 
prietor of the foundry; and, a little 
further on, opposite the 15| post, are 
a number of cottages, built of red brick, 
which are principally, if not wholly, 
occupied by the families of the foundry 
people. 

The country here is a flat valley, 
richly wooded ; opposite this post, to the 



81; 



811 



81i 



30 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



From Birmingham. 



From L'pool & Manchester. 



right, the Sankey Canal flows parallel 
with the road ; on a fine day, the flats 
(a class of vessel adapted to this navi- 
gation, of from 40 to 80 tons burden) 
may be seen bearing their burden of 
merchandise to and from the commer- 
cial metropolis of the kingdom, and, 
with their large red sails, adding much 
to the picturesque appearance of the 
scene. On the left, about a mile from 
the railroad, is 

WINWICK, which, though now in 
appearance but an insignificant town- 
ship, was formerly a British city, known 
by the appellation of Cair Guintguic. 
Win wick is remarkable as being one of 
the, if not the, richest living in England. 
It is a rectory, in the Archdeaconry 
of Chester, valued in the K. B. at 
£102 9s. 9|d; patron, the Earl of 
Derby. The Church is dedicated to 
St. Oswald, and is said to be coeval 
with the establishment of Christianity 
in Britain. This was the favourite 
place of residence of Oswald, King of 
Northumberland, and here it is sup- 
posed he was slain by Penda, King of 
Mercia. A little to the north of Win- 
wick, is Red Bank, the scene of an 
obstinately contested battle between a 
detachment of Cromwell's army and a 
party of Highlanders who had escaped 
from Preston, under the Duke of Ha- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 31 

Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

milton. A dreadful slaughter of the 
latter ensued, and many of the prisoners 
were hanged in a field hard by, which 
still bears the name of Gallows Croft. 
The population of the township is 603 ; 
of the parish, near 18,000. The annual 
value of assessment in 1815 was £4,291. 
Winwick has an endowed Grammar 
School, founded by Gwalter Legh, Esq., 
about the middle of the 16th century. 
Winwick Hall is close by the church, 
which may be best seen from this post 
(17th mile) ; the trees to the left are in 
Winwick Park. When winter has 
thinned the foliage, the spire of the 
venerable church may be plainly seen. 

A little past here (17 J), the Sankey 
Canal turns to the right, towards Run- 
corn Gap, at which place it enters 
the river Mersey, about 18 miles above 
Liverpool. 

Here ends the Bradley Embankment. 
One hundred yards past here, a single 
line of rails turn off to the left, towards 
the town of Warrington. Here are 
various works connected with the rail- 
way carriages. One mile further oh, is 
a bridge across the Line, over which 
passes the London road; and just 
through the bridge is the 



32 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



WARRINGTON STATION. 

Miles. 1st Class. 2nd Class. 
Distant from L'pool & Manchester 19| 4s. Od. 3s. Od. 

Distant from Birmingham 77| 16s. 6d. lis. 6d. 

From this Station, Runcorn lies 4 miles west ; 
Altrincham, 12 miles east. Except, however, 
he is travelling by a first class train, we should 
advise the traveller who is desirous to go to 
Runcorn, to alight at the Moore Station. 

We shall now proceed to give a short ac- 
count of 

WARRINGTON.* It is a market town 
and parish, in the hundred of West Derby ; 
the population of the parish is 19,155 ; of the 
town, 16,018. An. Ass. Val. £29,069. Its 
principal manufactures are, cottons, sail-cloth, 
hardwares, files, pins, and glass. Its public 
buildings are, a town-hall, market-hall, and 
cloth-hall. It has assembly-rooms, a theatre, 
gas-works, and a dispensary. Its markets are on 
Wednesday and Saturday ; it has two fairs, for 
horses, horned cattle, and cloth, viz., on July 18 
and November 30 (St. Andrew's), and a fair 
every Wednesday fortnight for cattle. Mr. 
Whittaker asserts, that it was formerly a Roman 
station, -but as the ancient name of the town was 

* As the traveller may be desirous of tracing the route 
of the carriages as he passes on his journey, we shall direct 
him for the future to the continuation of the Line itself, 
whenever we break off to describe places; for example, 
thus, on this occasion, (Line continued, page 35,) means 
that the description of the Line, and whatever may be seen 
from it, is resumed on page 35. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 33 

Walingtune, it completely destroys his theory. 
It appears probable that the present name was 
a corruption of the Saxon appellation Woering 
and Tun, signifying a fortified town. Leaving 
the antiquarians to settle these points, we pro- 
ceed to give a short sketch of the place, It is 
situated on the Mersey, over which a bridge 
was erected in the time of Henry VII. (1496) 
by the first Earl of Derby, to facilitate the pro- 
gress of the king, who was about to visit Latham 
House ; this bridge, after being many times 
repaired, was pulled down in 1812, and its 
successor is about to share the same fate, a 
handsome stone bridge having been just finished ; 
one every way worthy of the importance of the 
town. In the time of the Civil Wars, this was 
frequently the scene of obstinate conflicts, occa- 
sioned perhaps by there being no other bridge 
nearer than Burton-upon-Irwell. In 1643, the 
town was twice taken by storm by the Parlia- 
mentary forces. In 1648, the Scottish army, 
under the Duke of Hamilton, here made a stand ; 
General Lambert also here repulsed the Scottish 
army under the young king (Charles II.); and 
last, in 1745, it was found necessary to break 
down the middle arches of the bridge, to check 
the progress of the Rebels. The living are, a 
rectory and two canons, in the archdeaca&ry and 
diocese of Chester. C. V. rectory, £40, patron 
Lord LirTord ; the curacy of St. Paul, patron the 
rector (not in charge) ; that of the Holy Trinity, 
certified value, £17 10s.; An. Val., P. R. £106; 
patron, Thomas Leigh, Esq. The church, dedi- 



34 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

cated to St. Elphin, or Helen, is a handsome 
building, built of red free-stone, probably of 
Saxon origin, and contains some very curious 
old monuments; two ancient chapels remain, 
in one of which are some modern monuments 
of the Pattern family ; in the other, the magni- 
ficent tomb of Sir Thomas Boteler and his lady; 
the former was murdered in his mansion, Bewsey 
Hall. Here are places of worship for most 
classes of Dissenters, and one Roman Catholic 
chapel. The schools are numerous, among 
which are pre-eminent, the Free-school, founded 
and endowed in 1526, by one of the Boteler 
family ; and the Blue Coat School, which is a 
flourishing institution, and richly endowed for 
the education of 150 boys and 40 girls. There 
are many charitable institutions in the town. 
Warrington was the birth-place of Dr. Percival, 
founder of the Literary and Philosophical So- 
ciety at Manchester ; of Litherland, the inventor 
of the patent lever watch ; of Mrs. Leland, who 
died in 1593, at the age of 140; and here the 
Right Hon. George Tierney received his educa- 
tion ; and its neighbourhood gave birth to John 
Blackburne, who so successfully cultivated the 
Cotton-tree, and who was the second person 
who brought the Pine-apple to perfection in 
England. Warrington gives the title of Earl, , 
in addition to Stamford, to the Grey family. 

RUNCORN— named by the Saxons Ror- 
nicofan, is situated on the banks of the Mersey, 
18 miles from Liverpool. Since the completion 
of the Duke of Bridgewater's navigation, the 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 35 

town has assumed an importance which it never 
never before possessed. It is now a place of re- 
sort for salt water bathing, and its quarries of 
freestone employ a number of people. Popula- 
tion of parish, 10,326 ; of town, 5,035. Its 
church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a very 
ancient structure, partly in the early and partly 
in the later style of English architecture ; the 
living is a vicarage in the archdeaconry and 
diocese of Chester, K. B., £10. 4s. 2d. per year; 
patron, Christ Church, Oxford. Runcorn had 
once to boast of its castle, built by the renowned 
Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, and 
widow of Ethelred, Earl of Mercia, some traces 
of which are still visible by the river-side, about 
300 yards below the Church. This fortress 
commanded the passage from the kingdom of 
Mercia to that of Northumberland. 

ALTRINGHAM, is a neat market town in 
the county of Chester, parish of Bowden, and 
hundred of Bucklow ; it is 12 miles east of the 
Railroad. Pop. 2,708. An. As. Val. £4,547. 
Although it possesses several factories of yarn, 
cotton, and worsted, the greater proportion of 
its population are engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. The Duke of Bridgewater's canal passes 
the town. It has a market on Tuesday, and 
fairs, April 29, August 5, and November 22, 
for cattle and drapery. The living is a perpetual 
curacy, not in charge, it being a chapelry to 
Bowden; An, Val. P. R. £102. 



36 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 



We take our departure from the 
Warrington Station, and enter 
upon the Arpley Embankment, 
which is nearly two miles long, and, in 
some places, from 16 to 18 feet above 
the fields. The road passes over five 
bridges, besides the viaduct, in cross- 
ing this Embankment. The ascent of 
the road for the next mile is one inch in 
500 ; then for 2| miles, nearly to the 
mile post (23rd mile), the ascent is 
scarcely perceptible, being but one in 
3474. Looking to the westward, the 
high chimneys at Runcorn, and Halton 
Castle, may be plainly seen. The view 
from the ruins of this ancient fortress, 
which was demolished in the civil wars, 
is very extensive ; we have not space to 
describe it, but if our readers are about 
to sojourn for any time at Liverpool, 
we would recommend them to take the 
steam boat to Runcorn, and promise 
them much gratification in a visit to 
the castle and neighbourhood. To the 
left is Latchford ; the spire of its church 
may be plainly seen ; and looking back, 
the traveller will now have a view of 
Bank Hall, the seat of Wilson Patten, 
Esq., the member for North Lancashire. 
Looking forward, the Hill Cliff quarry, 
from whence the stone was obtained for 
the formation of the bridges and 
viaducts, is to the south-east. Tradition 



19J 



19| 



201- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 37 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

asserts that the celebrated Nixon pro- 
phesied, that when these rocks visited 
Vale Royal, the family of Cholmondely 
would have attained its zenith, and 
much more which this deponent sayeth 
not. 

About forty yards before we come 
to this post (20|), the Railroad passes 
into Cheshire, by crossing the War- 
in gton Viaduct, which has twelve arches, 
viz., nine land arches of 16 feet span, 
and 28 feet high from the level of the 
water; 2 river arches of 75 feet span, 
and 34 feet high, and one canal arch 
of 23 feet high from the same level. 
The river Mersey and the Mersey and 
Irwell Canal here flow under the road. 
The Viaduct has a very handsome stone 
parapet. To the left is Walton Inferior; 
a little more to the south east is Wal- 
ton Superior. About 30 yards before 
this post, we enter the Moore Excava- 
tion, which is near one mile and a half 
in length, and is crossed by five hand- 
some bridges, the first and last of which 
are built on the skew principle. We 
now arrive at the 

raOORE STATION, 

Miles. 2nd Class. 

Distant from Liverpool and) OOI « aA 

Manchester j 2 ^ * * ' ' 3s * bd " 

Distant from Birmingham . . 74J . . lis. Od. 

MOORE is a small township in the 
parish of Runcorn; it lies a little to the 



38 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

east of the line, and its population is 
243, principally agriculturists. (Line 
continued page 42.) 

From this station Frodsham is three, 
Chester thirteen miles to the west- 
ward. We shall notice these places 
here, because the Railroad Circular 
places them as easiest of access from 
this Station, though we should certainly 
have chosen Preston Brook as the most 
eligible point from which to proceed to 
either. 

FRODSHAM is a market town, parish, 
and township, in the hundred of Eddisbury. 
The population of the parish and town is 5,547, 
of the town 1,746; An. As. Val. £,5780. It is 
pleasantly situated on an eminence under the 
hills, which form the northern extremity of 
Delamere Forest, at the confluence of the 
Weaver and Mersey. It has an ancient church, 
dedicated to St. Lawrence, which stands on 
an eminence above the town; the living is a 
vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of 
Chester, C. V. £23 13s. lljd.; patron, Christ 
Church, Oxford. 

Here is a well endowed free school, and a 
house for the master, on the summit of which 
is an observatory. This, like many of the 
towns in this county, formerly had a castle, 
which was given by Edward the First to 
David Lleweyllen, who afterwards broke his 
alliance with that monarch, and put one of 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 39 

his garrisons to the sword. He was after- 
wards taken, and was the first person who 
was executed as a traitor, according to the law 
in use a few years back, but which piece of bar- 
barism will, we trust, never more be exhibited 
before a civilized people. The castle was 
destroyed by fire in 1642. About a mile east of 
the town are some salt works, which, with the 
cotton manufacture, employ a great many of 
the inhabitants. 

CHESTER is a city and county in itself. 
It is situated on a rocky eminence above the 
river Dee, which half encircles the walls. Popu- 
lation of city 21,363. It has a considerable 
maritime trade with Wales and Ireland, Spain, 
Portugal, and the Baltic ; but the continual shift- 
ing of the bed of the river will ever prevent its 
port becoming of much importance. Its exports 
are copper, cast iron, coal, lead, calamine, and 
large quantities of cheese. It has large iron 
foundries, snuff mills, and some considerable 
ship building establishments : its principal ma- 
nufacture is gloves. It has markets every Wed- 
nesday and Saturday ; fairs on the last Thursday 
in February and April; on July 5 to 10, October 
10 to 15, for cattle, Irish linen, woollen cloths, 
hardware, hops, drapery, and Manchester goods. 
The markets are well supplied, and there is now 
a good market-place. 

The diocese of Chester includes 256 parishes, 
and the city is divided into nine, viz. St. Bridget's, 
a rectory, not in charge, P. R. £100; St. Martin's, 
a rectory, not in charge, £70 ; St. Peter's, dis- 



40 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

curacy, K. B. £6 13s. 6eU P. R. £82 18s. 4d.; 
St. Olave, curacy, not in charge, P. R. £54 ; 
St. Michaels, curacy, not in charge, P. R. £90 ; 
the patron of these livings is the Bishop of 
Chester ; the Holy Trinity, a dis-rectory, 
valued in K. B. £8 15s. 5d., patron, the Earl 
of Derby ; St. Oswald, dis-vicarage, K. B. £8 
18s. 4d., united with the curacy of Bruen, of the 
certified value of £41 0s. 2d., in the gift of the 
dean and chapter; St. MaryVon-the-Hill, a 
rectory, K. B. £52, in the gift of Earl Gros- 
venor ; St. John's-the-Little, a curacy, not in 
charge, patrons, the corporation. The church of 
St. John contains some fine specimens of Saxon 
architecture. In the city are places of worship 
for all sects of Dissenters ; for Quakers, Roman 
Catholics, &c. &c. 

We have not space to trace its early his- 
tory; suffice it to say, that from the frequent 
discoveries made of coins, inscriptions, sculp- 
tured figures, altars, statues, and hypocausts, 
it is evident that it was a Roman station; 
in addition to which, the buildings of the city 
are disposed in the form of a Roman camp, con- 
sisting principally of four streets, running to the 
cardinal points from a common centre. There 
is very much which is worthy of notice in this 
ancient city. The streets have evidently been 
excavated from the rock, which circumstance 
has induced a singular construction of the houses. 
On a level with the streets are low shops, appa- 
rently wholesale warehouses, and above them 
are balustraded gallaries, which have a most 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 41 

singular appearance to strangers, who with 
difficulty can persuade themselves they are not 
up one pair of stairs in the house ; in these gal- 
laries are, however, the shops of most of the 
light and fashionable businesses. The wall, 
which surrounds the city, is not the least re- 
markable object; it forms a pleasant promenade, 
and from it may be seen Rowton Moor, the site 
of that disastrous battle which Charles the First 
witnessed from one of the towers. 

Of the ancient castle, said to have been 
erected by William the Conqueror, only a small 
portion remains ; the modern one is, perhaps, 
the finest edifice in the city ; the grand entrance 
is formed on the model of the Acropolis at 
Athens. It contains an Armoury, Barracks, 
Court of Justice, Offices of the Palatinate, 
County Jail, and Shire Hall. 

The Cathedral is a spacious and irregular pile, 
formed of red stone ; this was originally a nun- 
nery, founded by Walpherus, king of Mercia, 
for his daughter, St. Werburgh, to whom it was 
dedicated. It subsequently became the abbey 
church of a monastry of Benedictines. At the 
dissolution of the monastery, Henry VIII. en- 
dowed the cathedral, for the maintenance of a 
dean, six prebendaries, six minor canons, and 
other officers. We have not space to com- 
ment on the interior; the reader must see it, 
and it will amply repay the trouble of a visit ; 
it contains some of the finest specimens of 
Gothic architecture in the kingdom. St. John's 
Church; a Roman hypocaustand sudatory, with 



42 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



a beautiful altar inscribed to Esculapius, and 
a new bridge across the Dee, are well worthy of 
the stranger's attention. Besides the public 
buildings above mentioned, there is an infirmary, 
an Exchange, a Commercial-hall, in which is the 
Concert-room and City Courts of Justice ; two 
Public Libraries, a Theatre, and a Commercial 
News-room. The corporation of Chester consists 
of a Mayor, Recorder, 2 Sheriffs, 24 Aldermen, 
and 40 Common Councilmen. The city returns 
two members to parliament; electors, about 1800, 
consisting of the old constituency of resident 
freemen and £10 householders; the Sheriffs are 
returning officers. 

The public charities are very numerous, and 
include a Blue-coat School, a Diocesan School, 
an Infirmary, and several Almshouses. We re- 
gret that we are not able to devote more space to 
this interesting city. — (For Races, see Index.) 

From Birmingham From L'pool & Manch'r. 

Proceeding through the Moore exca- 
vation, we leave to the left Moore Hall, 
the seat of General Hearon, and " The 
Elms," occupied by William Stubbs, 
Esq., and, just before the 23 mile-post, 23 
we enter on the Moore Embankment; 
it is nearly a mile and a quarter long, 
and in some places 16 feet above the 
fields; in crossing this embankment, the 
railroad passes over three bridges, and 
rises about 1 inch in 510, which con- 
tinues unto the post marked (24 J), 
when a steep inclination of 1 in 100, 



74| 



23i 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 43 

From Birmingham. From L'pool Sc Maneh'r. 

which is half a mile in length, is suc- 
ceeded by a continuation of the acclivity, 
but reduced to 1 in 180, which brings 
us to the level, just before we arrive at 
the 25 j mile-post. 

The country here is worthy of atten- 
tion : to the left may be seen Daresbury 
Wood, or Daresbury Firs, the tower of 
Daresbury Church; and Daresbury Hall, 
the seat of Mr. Chad wick ; to the right 
is Norton Priory, surrounded by thick 
woods, the property of Sir Richard 
Brooke. This modern mansion occupies 
the scite of the former religious edifice ; 
four of the ancient vaults of the priory, 
and the ornamental door-way, are pre- 
served in the present erection, In 1643, 
Norton Priory was besieged by a party 
of royalists, who were beaten off by the 
family with considerable loss. This 
extensive vale is bounded to the west 
by gently swelling hills, luxuriant in j 
wood and verdure. 

Here is a neat lodge on the right, in 24J 
which the person who takes care of the 
gates resides. The gate to the right 
opens on the road leading to Norton ; 
that on the left, to the Daresbury road. 
At about 60 yards further, we enter the 
great cutting at Preston Brook; it is 
about a mile and three quarters in 
length, and in some places 45 feet deep ; 
and in it is one bridge, an aqueduct, and 



44 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

a small tunnel of about 100 yards in 
length ; opposite this post, to the left, 
is the village of 

Preston Brook ; it is a small town- 
ship in the parish of Runcorn, and 
hundred of Bucklow, with a population 
of 461 ; An. As. Val. £3,164. The 
Grand Trunk Canal here forms a junc- 
tion with the Duke of Bridge water's. 
200 yards past the post, the railroad 
passes under the Duke of Bridgewater's 
Canal, which is supported by an aque- 
duct of two arches. 

It is probable the traveller will here 
observe that strong plankings are placed 
between the rails, as also through the 
western arch of the viaduct ; this is a 
substitute for a bridge, which could not 
very well have been erected here. A 
considerable stream of water runs under 
the railroad, the course of which may 
be traced by the planking, which is laid 
down to sustain and keep the rails in 
their places. Just through the bridge is 

PRESTON BROOK STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester . . 25 3s. 6d. 
From Birmingham 72J 10s. 6d. 



Just before this post, we arrive at 
the small tunnel ; this was resorted 
to on account of the great value of the 
land and the buildings upon it ; if the 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 45 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

idea had occurred at an earlier period 
of the work, it would probably have 
been of much greater extent. The 
Trent and Mersey Canal flows parallel 
with, and close to the east side of the 
road. We here pass through Bird's 
Wood, an extensive fox cover ; this cut- 
ting will add greatly to the safety of the 
ancient family of foxes, although a sad 
foil to the amusement of the squire- 
archy. The road is here a perfect level 
for about a quarter of a mile ; it then 
has a descent of 1 in 330, for little 
more than a mile; at the 26| post, the 
Dutton Embankment carries us across 
Dutton Bottoms ; to the right, opposite 
here, is Aston Hall, the seat of — Aston 
Esq. ; a little further on, the road crosses 
a bridge, and to the left may be dis- 
cerned the village of Dutton; a slight 
cutting (over which is a handsome skew 
bridge) brings us in view of 

DUTTON VIADUCT, 

which carries the railroad across the 
valley of the Weaver. This magnificent 
work cost about £50,000. It consists 
of twenty arches, each of 65 feet span. 
The road is 27| feet wide, and is 65 feet 
above the level of the Weaver and 
Canal, which passes under it. It was 
found necessary to drive piles in some 
places, to form a foundation for the 



46 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

piers ; but for the most part they are 
built on a fine solid ground. 

We cannot pass this work without 
being struck with wonder at the mighty 
energies of man. We glory in being a 
portion of that nation which has pro- 
duced this and other works equally 
astonishing — works not executed under 
the spirit-stirring influence of war, or 
carried on by the unwearying spirit of 
national enmity; but works contrived 
for the benefit of our fellow- creatures — 
which, in their moral influence, must af- 
fect the happiness and comfort of millions 
yet unborn. From the centre of the via- 
duct is a view, which is an extraordinary 
auxiliary to the effect produced on the 
mind by the contemplation of this stu- 
pendous work. To the westward is a 
thickly-wooded dell, with the Weaver 
and the Canal, like twin waters, grace- 
fully wending their way in close contact. 
To the eastward is the most diversified 
and brilliant scenery that such a space 
could contain. The falls of the Weaver 
are just before us, and send up a mur- 
muring sound (the music of silence) 
which, aided by the pictorial scene, 
cannot fail to produce that exquisite 
feeling of peace which the contempla- 
tion of nature, in her beauty and holi- 
ness, alone can impart. 
I In directing attention to this lovely I 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 47 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

valley, we must not forget that the 
Weaver affords good sport to the fly- 
fisher. In coming along the fields 
from Preston Brook, which is two miles 
and a half from here, he will pass a little 
house, which is called Pickering's Boat, 
at which he may obtain excellent ac- 
commodation. Visitors, particularly if 
ladies are of the party, had better leave 
the railway carriages at Acton, from 
whence, for a trifle, a guide can easily 
be procured; and there cannot be a 
more delightful scene for the enjoyment 
of a pic-nic, than this valley affords; 
the river may here be crossed on a raft, 



if a visit to "Pickering's Boat" be 
desirable. 

. The railroad has now an ascent of 
1 in 330 ; the road is here a considerable 
height above the valley ; it crosses one 
bridge, and a little further arrives at 
an excavation of about a mile in length, 
which is crossed by three bridges. The 
country is open, the view being bounded 
by hills at a great distance ; and the line 
is perfectly level for about a mile, within 
which distance we arrive at the 

ACTON 1 STATION 1 . 

Miles. 2nd Class. 

From Liverpool and Manchester 29J . 4s. Od. 

From Birmingham 68 . 10s. Od. 

Acton is a small township in the 



28 



671 



48 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool and Manch'r. 

parish of Weaverham ; its population is 
335. An. As. Val. £1,847. 

We now pass over one bridge, and 
then, with but a slight embankment 
not worth notice, proceed through the 
Great Hartford Excavation, which, with 
one or two other slight embankments, 
and the intervention of that over Vale 
Royal, continues for nearly 7 miles, 
and is crossed by 13 bridges, one of 
which has three arches. In this con- 
tract there were about 900,000 cubic 
yards of earth removed. The road for 
the last quarter of a mile has had an 30 
ascent of 1 inch in 440, which continues 
for three quarters of a mile further. 
Nearly opposite this post, to the right, 
is Grange Hall, the seat of Lady 
Brooke ; it is situated upon a hill, sur- 
rounded by park-like grounds, which 
have a gentle declivity towards the 
Railway. The Railway is nearly level 
for the next three quarters of a mile, 
when we pass under Chester Lane 
bridge, and, sixty yards further, arrive 
at the 

HARTFORD STATION. 

Miles. 1st Class. 2d Class. 

Hartford is a small township in 



to 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 49 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

the parish of Great Budworth, and 
hundred of Eddisbury ; its population is 
863, and the An. As. Yal. £3,245. 

From this station Tarporley is 8 
miles, and Chester 16 to the westward; 
Northwich 2, and Knutsford 9 to the 
eastward. (Line continued page 52.) 

NORTHWICH is a market-town, town- 
ship, and chapelry, in the parish of Great Bud- 
worth, situated on the river Weaver, near its 
confluence with the Dane, and has a population 
of 1,481 ; An. As. Val. £1,952; it is 17J miles 
E. N. E. from Chester. It derives its name 
from its relative position to other wiches or 
Salt- towns. It was called by the Britons Hel- 
lath-du, or the Black Salt Town. The market 
is held on Friday, and the fairs on April 10 
for cattle; August 2, December 6, for cattle, 
drapery goods, and bedding. 

The living is a curacy, in the archdea- 
conry and diocese of Chester (not in charge) ; 
patron, the vicar of Great Budworth. It has a 
well-endowed free grammar-school, and chapels 
for Independents and Methodists. The inhabi- 
tants are principally occupied in the manufac- 
ture of cotton, and in the salt trade ; as much as 
240,000 tons of salt have been sent to Liverpool 
in one year. Salt is here manufactured both 
from the rock and the brine springs ; these latter 
are from 60 to 100 feet in depth, and the water is 
so impregnated with saline particles, as to be 
fit for evaporation as soon as it is raised by the 



50 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

pump. The mines of rock salt were discovered 
in 1670; the upper stratum lying from 180 to 
200 feet below the surface of the ground. This 
vein was 30 feet in thickness, but, we believe, is 
now abandoned, as, a century after the above 
discovery, a superior description was obtained 
at from 100 to 150 feet lower, the intermediate 
space being a mass of stone. The interior of 
these mines has a most brilliant appearance 
when lit up by candles; the roof and pillars 
then resemble the most sparkling crystal; but 
they must be seen to be estimated. 

Northwich was fortified by the Parliamenta- 
rians during the civil war, but, after an obstinate 
resistance, was taken by the Royalists ; it was, 
however, once more taken by the Parliament, 
and held till the Restoration. 

KNUTSFORD is a market town and 
parish in the hundred of Bucklow ; it has a 
population of 2,823 ; An. As. Val. £5,051. Its 
market is held on Saturday : fairs, Whit-Tues- 
day, July 10, and November 8, for cattle and 
drapery. The principal manufactures carried on 
here are those of tanned leather, sewing thread, 
&c. The church is dedicated to St. John ; the 
living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and 
diocese of Chester, endowed by the Crown with 
£400 ; and £16 per annum by a private benefac- 
tion ; patrons, the lords of the following manors, 
in succession : — Over Knutsford, Nether Knuts- 
ford, Ollerton Toft, and Buxton. The town has 
a Sessions House, a spacious County Prison, 
three places of worship for Dissenters, and two 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 51 

Charity Schools. It derived its name from Knut, 
or Canute, who here forded the river with his 
Danes, and defeated the Saxons in a great 
battle. 

This town has a singular Marriage Custom. 
On the morning of the ceremony, it is usual for 
the friends of the happy pair to strew the street 
before their doors with brown sand, upon which 
they form fanciful devices with white sand, and 
over this artificial carpet strew various flowers 
which the season may afford ; thus produc- 
ing an emblem of the harmony and beauty of 
the social compact ; and the pure feelings which 
generally accompany "young love" — alas! I 
fear we must allow — an emblem also of their 
evanescent nature : each wayfaring man that 
passes by carries away a portion of the sand, and 
the wind bears away the flowers ; and the wear 
and tear of the world bears away the delicate 
feelings, and the gentle attentions, to which love 
first gave birth ; and the flowers of courtship, 
are they not too often allied to thorns by mar- 
riage ! (For Races, see Index.) 

For CHESTER— see page 39. 

TARPORLEY, a market town, parish, and 
township, in the hundred of Eddisbury ; pop. of 
parish 2,391, of town 995; An. As. Yal. £2,866. 
The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the 
manufacture of stockings and breeches. Mar- 
ket on Thursday; fairs, May 1st, the first Mon- 
day after August 24th and December 11th. The 
church is dedicated to St. Helen ; the living is 
a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of 



52 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

Chester, K. B. £20 3s. 4d., in joint patronage 
of the Dean and Chapter of Chester, Lord An- 
vanley, and Sir P. Egerton. The town has also a 
methodist chapel, and a school endowed by Lady 
Jane Done with £20 per annum. Here the princi- 
pal gentlemen of the county assemble at an annual 
hunt. In the neighbourhood is Cliefden, for- 
merly the residence of the parents of George the 
Third, but more remarkable for its grounds, 
which were planted with trees upon the plan in 
which the great Marlborough arranged his troops 
at the battle of Blenheim. Near here are also the 
ruins of Beeston Castle, formerly one of the 
strongest fortresses in the kingdom ; it was dis- 
mantled by the Parliamentarians ; enough, how- 
ever, remains to evidence its former strength. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

Resuming our journey, we have now 
a descent of 1 in 330 for hear a mile, 
when, with but slight alteration, and an 
occasional level, we have an average 
ascent of about 1 in 280, until, at the 
53J post, (one mile on this side of 
Whitmore,) we attain an elevation of 
390 feet above low water mark at Liver- 
pool, being nearly 250 feet above the 
road at this station. 
64| The Vale Royal Embankment, which 32f 
is about 150 yards long and 60 feet 
high, here meets the Viaduct midway 
in the valley. This bridge has 5 arches, 
each 63 feet span, and carries the Rail- 
road across Vale Royal, at an elevation I 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 53 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

of near 70 feet from the water in the 
river Weaver, which flows beneath. 
The village of Moilton may be distin- 
guished to the left, by the spire of its 
church; and to the westward may be 
seen the chimnies of Yale Royal Abbey, 
the seat of Lord Delamere. There is 
nothing remarkable in the appearance 
of the present mansion ; it is rather low 
in its elevation, and consists of a centre 
and two wings, built of red stone : there 
is but little about it to remind us of the 
ancient monastic edifice, except, indeed, 
the noble woods which surround it — 
these well accord with the ideas we 
form of the wealth, and ease, and enjoy- 
ments of the holy men who constituted 
those brotherhoods. 

The family of Cholmondeley were 
the reputed patrons of the prophet 
Nixon, whose visions, it would appear, 
have great credit among the peasantry 
even of the present time, who look at 
the Viaduct with a sort of ominous 
fear, regarding it as a fulfilment of one 
of them, viz., " That when the rocks near 
Warrington should visit Vale Royal, 
the sun of this ancient family should 
set/' The stone of which the viaduct 
was built did come from the Hill ClifT 
quarry ; hence the good vill agios are 
now filled with expectancy, while the 
nobleman who is the subject of their 



54 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r, 

alarm thinks no more of Nixon or his 
prophecies, than the fox he follows with 
so much zeal, or the grouse that he is 
probably at this moment (12th August) 
shooting. As a matter of curiosity, we 
must, however, mention that, in support 
of the one prophecy, we were informed 
of another, viz., that this same Nixon 
had foretold that in the year 1837 Eng- 
land should be without a king. Whether 
this has been invented to support the 
other, or whether the fact of our coun- 
try being kingless is an accidental ful- 
filment of one of his reveries, it cannot 
but surprise us that, in the nineteenth 
century, the ravings of an idiot should 
be regarded in authority as but a trifle 
only inferior to Holy Writ. 
63 j Opposite here, to the left, is a place 
for the engines to take in water (it is 
not a station) and Eaton Hall, the seat 
of Sir E. Antrobus. 
63 On the right, about 200 yards before 
you arrive at this post, is Newbridge 
Salt Works, Mr. Johnson, proprietor : 
here are 30 or 40 men employed. The 
works are about a quarter of a mile from 
62 1 the road. To the left is Walton Green, 35 
a red house, occupied by Mr. Penning. 
A little more to the eastward is Bostock 
Hall, the seat of James France, Esq. 
A mile further we arrive at the end of 
the Great Excavation, and 



33| 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 55 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r 

WINSFORD STATION", 

which is about 40 yards past the bridge. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 36£ . 5s. 6d. 
From Bmningham 61 . 9s. Od. 

There is so little worth attention in 
this vLlage, that it is not even noticed 
in Parliamentary Population Returns. 
(Line resumed, page 56.) 

From this station Middlewich is two miles to 
the eastward ; this is a market town, parish and 
township, in the hundred of No*thwich, County 
of Chester. It derives its name from its centrical 
situation between the wiches or salt-towns ; its 
origin is of very ancient date. Pop. 1,325; An. 
As. Val. £1,569. Markets are held every Tues- 
day ; fairs, on St. James's, August 5, and Holy 
Thursday, for cattle. The principal manufacture 
of this town is salt ; to which, during the last 
few years, may be added that of cotton and silk. 
The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a spa- 
cious structure. On the south side of it is a 
college, founded by Thomas Savage, Archbishop 
of York, and an oratory, founded by one of the 
Leigh family. Theliving is a discharged vicarage, 
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester; 
K. B. £14; P. R. £130; it is endowed with 
£400 by private benefaction and a gift from the 
Crown, and £1,000 by a parliamentary grant; 
patron, Rev. Isaac Wood. It has a free school, 
and three places of worship for Dissenters. The 
salt obtained here is principally from* the brine 



56 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

springs, the water from which is said to yield 
one-fourth of its weight in salt. The Grand 
Tunk Canal passes through the town, which gives 
it the benefit of an extensive inland navigation. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 



61 



60f 



60 
59 
59J 



We now enter on the Middlewich 
Embankment. There are five bridges 
in this work, which is about one mile 
and a quarter in length. To the right 
of the bridge is Winsford Lodge, the 
seat of J. Dudley, Esq. ; and to the left, 
about a mile and a half from the road, 
is Manor Hall, the residence of W. 
Court, Esq. Here, to the right, is an 
extensive view of a level, open country, 
through which the river Weaver may 
me seen pursuing its course in graceful 
evolutions. To the left, the Derbyshire 
and Staffordshire hills bound the view. 
The Middlewich Branch Canal here 
flows beneath the Railroad. 

To the left is Lear Hall. The re- 
mains of a moat for the most part sur- 
round the house. From this post the 
Minshull Vernon Excavation (with the 
intervention of a short embankment) 
extends for about a mile; three bridges 
cross this cutting. 

MINSHULL VERNON STATION. 

Miles. 2d Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester . .38 J 6s. Od. 

From Birmingham 58§ 9s. Od. 

Minshull Vernon is a township in 



36£ 



36J 



37J; 



38 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



61 



Prom Birmingham. Fram L'pool & Manch'r. 

the parish of Middlewich, and hundred 
ofNorthwich, county of Chester ; Pop. 
385; An.As.Val. £3,146. 

A slight embankment carries us to 
within a short distance of the 39 \ post, 
when a cutting of three quarters of a 
mile (across which are two more bridges) 
succeeds. 

We now arrive at an embankment 
which crosses Wanningham Moss ; this 
extends to within 200 yards of the 



39 



40| 



41| post, when we enter Coppenhall 
Moss. A quarter of a mile further we 
pass under a bridge, and shortly after 
enter the Coppenhall Excavation ; this 
is not quite a mile and a quarter in 
length ; it is crossed by three bridges, 
the first of which is built on the skew 
principle ; and just by the 42| post is 

THE COFFSNHALL STATION. 

Miles. 2d Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester . .42J 6s. 6d. 

From Birmingham 55 8s. 6d. 

Coppenhall is a parish and town- 
ship in the hundred of Nan twich, county 
of Chester; Pop. 350; An. As. Val. 
£2,013. The church is dedicated to St. 
Michael ; the living is a rectory in the 
archdeaconry and diocese of Chester; 
K. B. £6 10s. ; patron, the Bishop of 
Lichfield and Coventry. 

An embankment of a quarter of a 



41i 



54 



58 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

mile, and a cutting of about the same 
length (across which is a bridge), bring 
us to the 43 J post; nearly opposite 43f 
here, to the left, is the place at which 
it was proposed to commence the 
Manchester and Cheshire Junction 
Railway. From a short embankment 
which extends to the Coppenhall Sta- 
tion, a good view 7 of the country may 
be obtained ; it is here particularly 
rich, abounding with wood and luxuri- 
ant pasture. The 

CREWE STATION. 

Miles. 1st Class. 2d Class. 

F Xs^T.°.\^ an ;} 43 * 9s - 6d - 7s - 6d - 

From Birmingham 53| lis. 6d. 8s. Od. 

CREWE is a small township in 
the parsh of Barthornley, and hundred 
of Nantwich ; Pop. 295 ; An. As. Val. 
£1,993. 

From this station Nantwich lies 4 
miles to the westward; Sandbach, 5; 
Congleton, 11; Macclesfield, 19 to the 
the eastward. (Line resumed page 63.) 

NANTWICH is a market-town and parish 
in the hundred of the same name, county of 
Chester, situated on each side of the Weaver, in 
a valley which contains some of the richest dairy- 
land in the kingdom; Pop., town and parish, 
5,357, town, 4,886; An. As. Yal. £6,484. 
Market on Saturday ; Fairs, March 26, the 2nd 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 59 

Tuesday in June, September 4th, and De- 
cember 4th, principally for cattle, sheep, pigs, 
and once a fortnight for horned cattle, from 
Candlemas to the fair in March. The principal 
occupation of the inhabitants is the manufacture 
of salt, shoes, and cotton; it has also a large 
trade in cheese. Nantwich, it would appear, 
existed in the time of the Britons, previous to 
the Roman Invasion, when it was called Halen 
Gwyn, or the White Salt Town. Its present 
name is undoubtedly from the British word 
nant, a brook or marsh, and the Saxon vie, or as 
commonly pronounced, ivich, a settlement, usual- 
ly applied to places in which salt is made; the 
words combined signifying a salt town in a low 
or marshy situation. This is the first place in 
which salt was manufactured in Britain ; hence 
the Romans named it Salinis; it is tolerably 
certain, however, that they obtained salt from 
the brine-springs only, as we find no mention 
of the salt-mines until the latter part of the 
seventeenth century. The inhabitants have the 
privilege of not serving on juries out of the town, 
or with strangers; this was confirmed in the 
reign of Elizabeth, but is of still more ancient 
date. The church, dedicated to St. Mary and 
St. Nicholas, is built in the form of a cross, with 
a semicircular choir, and a fine octagonal tower 
rising from the centre. This church contains a 
portion of the remains of Vale Royal Abbey, 
several of the stalls having been brought from 
thence at the period of the dissolution. The 
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and 



60 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

diocese of Chester; K. B. £27 3s. 4d. ; An. 
Val. P. R. £100. It is endowed with £1200 
by private benefaction, the crown, and a par- 
liamentary grant; patron, Lord Crew. The 
town has many charitable institutions. The 
widow of the immortal Milton resided here 
several years before her death, and here died in 
1 726. Nantwich is the only town in the county 
which, in the Civil Wars, uniformly adhered to 
the Parliamentary party. It suffered, however, 
severely, although it several times repelled the 
Royalist forces with great slaughter. The town 
was visited by the plague (1604), which carried 
off upwards of 500 persons, at that time probably 
more than half its inhabitants. 

SANDBACH is a market-town, parish, and 
township, in the hundred of North wich, county of 
Chester, situated on an eminence near the river 
Wheelock ; Pop., town and parish, 7,214, of town, 
3,710; An. As. Val. £8,169. Market-day, Thurs- 
day ; fairs, on Easter Thursday, first Thursday 
after September 1 2, for cattle and horses. It was 
formerly celebrated for its malt liquor, and also 
for the manufacture of worsted yarn and stuffs 
for country wear, but its trade has much de- 
clined. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, 
and has a lofty steeple ; the living is a vicarage, 
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester; 
K. B. £15 10s. 2Jd.; patron, Rev. J. Armistead. 
Here are places of worship for various denomi- 
nations of dissenters, and an endowed school. 
In the market-place were two crosses, orna- 
mented with a carved representation of the cm- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 61 

cifixion, and various images, but these are now 
removed. 

CONGLETON is a market-town and cha- 
pelry, in the parish of Astbury, and hundred of 
North wich, county of Chester; it is situated on 
the river Dean, near the borders of Staffordshire; 
Pop. 9,352; An. As. Val. £11,189. Market on 
Saturday ; fairs, Thursday before Shrovetide, 
May 12, July 5, November 22, for cattle and 
pedlars' ware. The principal manufactures 
are leather, cotton, silk, and ribbon. The 
church is dedicated to St. Peter ; the living is a 
curacy, subordinate to the rectory of Astbury, 
in the diocese of Chester; K. B. £41 15s. Od.; 
P. R. £140 ; it is endowed with £800 by private 
benefaction, the crown, and a parliamentary 
grant ; patrons, the Corporation of Congle- 
ton. The town is governed by a mayor and 
six aldermen : it is healthily situated, and the 
houses are neat and clean. Lime-stone of very 
excellent quality is obtained in its neighbour- 
hood. We cannot but record an instance of 
the singular taste of this town in days of yore. 
It would appear that, in 1622, they had so great 
a predilection for bear-baiting, that upon the 
town-bear dying, when the corporate funds were 
exceedingly low, the townsmen appropriated the 
funds which had been saved for the purchase of 
a new Bible, to the purchase of a new Bear 1 — 
and it is yet a bye-word in the mouths of the 
enemies of the good people of Congleton, that 
u they prefer their Bear to their Bible." 

MACCLESFIELD is a market and cor- 



62 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

porate town, borough (by the Reform Bill), and 
a parish in the hundred of Macclesfield, county 
of Chester; it is situated on an eminence at 
the border of the forest to which it gives name, 
the river Bollin, or Jordan, running through 
the town. Pop. of the hundred, 123,429, of 
the town, 23,129; An. As. Val. £30,305. Its 
silk manufactures are very extensive ; that of 
cotton has also been successfully introduced. 
Here are also manufactures of rope, nails, brass, 
and iron; and the vicinity abounds with coal, 
slate, and stone. The Macclesfield Canal runs 
to the eastward of the town. The elements of 
wealth are here prodigally lavished, and the 
rapid increase of trade evinces that the inha- 
bitants estimate their advantages. The town 
has four churches, two of them perpetual cura- 
cies in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, 
endowed with £2,000 by private benefaction 
and a Parliamentary grant, viz. All Saints, 
K. B. £50; P. R. £122; patrons, the mayor 
and corporation, with the sanction of the Bishop 
of Chester; and Christ Church, not in charge, 
P. R. £150; patron, Wm. Roe, Esq. Another 
church, dedicated to St. Michael, founded by 
Edward I. in 1279, was nearly rebuilt in 1740. 
It is a spacious Gothic edifice, with a lofty spire; 
it has attached to it a sepulchral chapel, and in 
it are many ancient monuments; it has also a 
modern painted window, which cost £500. The 
New Church, erected by William Roe, Esquire, 
in 1775, is endowed with £100 a-year by its 
founder. There are also places of worship for 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



63 



various classes of Dissenters, and one Catholic- 
chapel. The government of the town is vested 
in a mayor and 24 aldermen, four of whom, 
including the mayor, are justices, elected annually 
by the freemen. It sends two members to Par- 
liament ; the electors are householders of £10 
and upwards, and are about 1,100 in number. 
The mayor is the returning officer. There are 
several charities and public buildings worthy of 
the attention of the visitor ; and the records of the 
town furnish much curious historical information. 

From Birmingliaiii. 

63| 



From L'pool & Manch'r. 



From hence there is, within a little 
more than five miles, a succession of four 
excavations, and as many embankments, 
varying from a quarter of a mile to a mile 
in length, on which ground the railroad 
goes under 9 bridges, and over 1 . We 
have stated them together, as doing so 
in detail would weary the reader. There 
is nothing further worthy of remark until 
we arrive at the 44 \ mile-post, when we 
have a view of the woods in Lord Crew's 
52f | domain. At the 44J post, a little to the 
south-east, and about a mile from the 
railroad, is Crewe Hall. This is a 
fine specimen of the singular style 
which prevailed at the commencement 
of the 18th century ; it is a quadrangu- 
lar building of considerable dimensions, 
principally built of red brick ; the cornices 
and door-cases being of stone ; the large 
bay windows in the front, and the open 



43J 






44J 



64 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

worked battlements, add much to the 
bold appearance of this elegant structure. 
Crewe Hall is well worthy of a visit from 
the tourist, as, independent of the gene- 
ral effect, its details are very interesting. 
The southern entrance opens to an ancient 
staircase of singular structure and great 
beauty ; its principal dining-room is a 
noble apartment, highly ornamented ; 
the drawing-room, portrait gallery, and 
private chapel, are well worthy of notice; 
in the latter is a fine painting of the Last 
Supper, and two very ancient specimens 
of stained glass. The grounds in the 
vicinity of the house are very extensive, 
presenting a fine undulating surface, the 
effect of which is much heightened by 
an extensive lake. The mansion is sur- 
rounded with thick woods, abounding 
with game ; the private gardens are en- 
closed by a ring fence of lofty trees, and 
are of such dimensions that their shadow 
does not impede vegetation. The Hall 
is not however much occupied by its 
noble owner, as the walks, overrun with 
the rank luxuriance of the woods and gar- 
dens, amply testify ; the reason whereof, 
popular tradition has not failed to ally 
with the marvellous. Thus sayeth the 
peasantry, the truth whereof this depo- 
nent voucheth not — " The late Lord 
Crewe, it would appear, was addicted 
to the noble vice of netting, and laid so 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 65 

Birmingham. Prom L'pool & Mancli'r. 

enormous a sum on a race between two 
grubs, that on losing it, this estate was 
obliged to be mortgaged for the payment; 
on his death, the present noble occupant 
did, with filial chivalry, allow the re- 
maining portion of the debt to be paid 
out of the estate, which has hitherto 
caused him to live in comparative seclu- 
sion, without such an establishment as 
this pre-eminently English mansion would 
appear to demand." 

Basford Hall is to the right; its 
glory has departed, and it is now no 
more than the residence of an English 
yeoman. 

To the left is a farm house, of Eliza- 
bethan appearance; proprietor, Mr. 
Garnet. A little to the north formerly 
stood Chorlton Hall : the cottage, 
which is evidently an appendage there- 
to, was formerly fortified, and is to this 
day called the Moat House. 

We are now approaching the borders 
of Staffordshire, which are but half a 
mile to the left, and continue about that 
distance for the next two miles, when 
we enter that county. From this spot, 
looking to the left, is another scene 
worthy of the pencil of a Claude — hill 
and valley, wood and village, covering 
a county, the surface of which is only 
surpassed in riches by the mineral trea- 
sures contained in its bosom. To the 



66 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

right Cheshire presents, as it were, a 
rival scene : her gently swelling hills 
bound an amphitheatre of rich pasture ; 
and the noble woods of Doddington 
Park scarcely conceal the princely 
structure they encompass. This noble 
work of art must now draw our attention 
from the interesting works of nature, 
which the sister county is presenting to 
our view. 
49 J About a mile to the right is Dodding- 
ton Hall, the seat of Lieutenant Gene- 
ral J. D. Broughton ; it is situated in 
an extensive park, whose venerable oaks 
and ancient avenue add much to the 
appearance of the modern mansion : 
this was erected from designs by Wyatt, 
towards the close of the last century. 
A short distance from the mansion are 
the remains of a fortified house, said to 
have been erected by Sir John Delves, 
in the reign of Edward the Third 
(1364). Near this was formerly a 
splendid mansion of Elizabethan origin, 
the recollection of which is preserved, 
though scarcely a vestige remains, by 
its having been twice occupied by the 
Parliamentarian forces during the civil 
wars. To the ancient fortalice, above 
referred to, has been attached an outer 
hall and staircase, and in this are pre- 
served the only relics of the Eliza- 
bethan mansion ; viz. five statues of 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



67- 



From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

Lord Audley and his esquires, which 
formerly ornamented the ancient erec- 
tion. 

About 100 yards past this, looking 48| 
to the left, a panoramic view of a por- 
tion of Staffordshire is obtained, which 
has all the appearance of a vast wood. 
Proceeding forward on the embankment, 
the country opens, and presents a scene 
of perfect enchantment. Betley Hall, 
the seat of William Toilet, Esq., is seen 
in the distance, amid park-like grounds. 
Betley Court, the residence of — 
Twemlow, Esq., is immediately before 
you ; and Betley Mere, a fine piece of 
water, adds much to the beauty of the 
domain, though unconnected there- 
with. The village of Betley is a little 
more to the south; it may be distin- 
guished by the spire of its church, 
which is a prominent object in the 
landscape. Ravenshall is still more 
southward ; and in the distance, crown- 
ing the hills, are the extensive woods of 
Grafton and Wrine Hill, the resort of 
foxes innumerable. The end of this 
Embankment, which is perhaps 30 feet 
high, brings us to the 49 post : it is fol- 
lowed by a short but deep excavation. 
A similar embankment, and another 
cutting of 300 yards in length, over 
which is one bridge, introduce us to 
the Madeley Embankment, one of the 



68 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

heaviest on the line, being three quarters 
of a mile in length, and, in some places, 
from forty to fifty feet above the fields 
below. In crossing it the railway passes 
over two bridges. 

Proceeding along this great work, we 
enter the county of Staffordshire. The 
eye is attracted to the right by a group 
of houses, in front of which is a large 
piece of water; the most prominent is 
Mr. Twemlow's mill. The red brick 
building surrounded with trees is Wrine 
Hall, now a farm house, occupied by 
Mr. Timmis, but formerly the family 
seat of the Egertons : a great portion of 
the original mansion has been removed ; 
it formerly covered the whole of the pre- 
sent garden. 
471 The Madeley Excavation here com- 50 
mences; it is between forty and fifty 
feet high, and, with the exception of 
an embankment across a deep dell in 
Grafton wood, of about 50 yards in 
width, it is a mile and a half in length. 
The Railroad proceeds under two bridges 
through Grafton Wood, the trees of which 
have a singular appearance, at the great 
height above you. This country used 
to be hunted by hounds, kept at Betley ; 
but the extent of the woods, and the 
close approximation of the covers would, 
we should think, ever prevent much 
sport : it would be a gallant fox indeed, 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 69 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

that would leave the security these ex- 
tensive woods afford. 

1 00 yards past this post is the 

MADEIaEY STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 51§ . 7s. 6d. 
From Birmingham 45f . 7s. Od. 

MADELEY is a parish in the hundred of 
Puchell, county of Stafford ; Pop. 1,190, chiefly 
agriculturists; An. As. Val. £7,273. The church, 
dedicated to All Saints, is a commodious struc- 
ture, and has a square embattled tower. The 
living is a dis- vicarage, in the archdeaconry of 
Stafford and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry ; 
K. B. £4 16s.; P. R. £94; endowed with 
£600, in equal sums, by a parliamentary grant, 
the crown, and private benefactions; patron, 
Lord Crew. Here is an endowed school for boys 
and girls. 

From this station Newcastle is 5 miles, Betley 
3, Potteries 7, eastward ; Woore 2§ west- 
ward. (Line resumed page 77.) 

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYNE, or LFME, 
is a borough and market town in the hundred of 
Pirehill and county of Stafford, having separate 
jurisdiction, and pleasantly situated on the river 
Trent. Pop. 8,192 ; An. As. Val. £12,609. Its 
principal market is held on Mondays, and there 
is a small one on Saturdays. Fairs on Shrove 
Monday, Easter Monday, Whitmonday, Monday 
before July 15, Monday after September 11, 
and November 6, for cattle. It derived its name 



70 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

from a castle, built by Edmund, earl of Lancaster, 
after Chesterton Castle had fallen into decay ; and 
it received the addition of Lyme from its proximity 
to the forest of Lyme, which formerly extended 
nearly to the town. The principal trade of the 
town is the manufacture of hats, clothing, silk, 
and cotton-throwing, and in the neighbourhood 
stoneware is made in prodigious quantities, as 
much as £100,000 worth of it having been 
exported in one year. The coal trade is also 
carried on to a very considerable extent. The 
Grand Trunk Canal passing through the town 
greatly facilitates its trade. The town was incor- 
porated by Henry the First, and afterwards by 
Elizabeth, which charter was confirmed by Charles 
the Second; it is governed by a mayor, two 
bailiffs, and twenty-four common-council men. 
It has sent two members to Parliament ever since 
the 27th of Edward the Third. The Reform Act 
confirms the privilege, but extends the suffrage to 
£10 householders; the constituency are about 
360 in number. This town had formerly four 
churches, three of which were destroyed in the 
barons' wars. The present very ancient church 
has a lofty square tower ; it is dedicated to St. 
Saviour. The living is a rectory, in the arch- 
deaconry of Stafford, and diocese of Lichfield and 
Coventry (not in charge) ; patrons, the Society 
for purchasing Livings. The town has meeting 
houses for various classes of Dissenters, a Catholic 
chapel, a free grammar school, a national, and 
several other endowed schools, and twenty alms- 
houses for twenty poor widows ; the latter were 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 71 

built and endowed by the Marquis of Stafford 
and Lord Grenville. This town has had no 
slight influence on the destinies of the country, 
in giving birth to two of the most staunch sup- 
porters of the regicide Cromwell; viz., John 
Goodwin, whose powerful talents and pen were 
always at his service ; and Major General Har- 
rison, who contributed much to his military pro- 
gress. 

The town is said to have had a singular mode 
of taming a shrew ; we only mention it from a 
thorough persuasion that there is not such a 
being in existence, and that, at the present time, 
it would be considered a lusus naturae ; it would, 
however, appear that such did exist in days of 
yore, for here the remedy has often been practised, 
which is as follows : — " A bridle was placed in 
the scold's mouth, she was then led through the 
town, and exposed to public shame in the market- 
place, until a promise of amendment was ex- 
tracted." Newcastle gives the title of Duke to 
the noble family of Clinton. (For Races, see 
Index.) 

BETLEY, a parish in the hundred of Pire- 
hill, county of Stafford ; Pop. 870, principally 
agricultural; An. As. Val. £2,804; it formerly 
had a market, but it has been discontinued, and 
the produce of the neighbourhood is sent to New- 
castle. It has still an annual fair on the 31st of 
July. The church is dedicated to St. Margaret. 
The living is a perpetual curacy, not in charge, in 
the archdeaconry of Stafford and diocese of Lich- 
field and Coventry, endowed with £1,200, be- 



72 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

stowed by private benefaction and royal bounty ; 
P.R. £101 9s. 6d. ; patron, George Toilet, Esq. 
About a mile from the town are the remains of 
Healy Castle. 

POTTERIES. The populous and interest- 
ing district, known under this general designation, 
is in the hundred of Pirehill and county of Staf- 
ford, 7 miles eastward of the Railroad. It extends 
10 miles in length and a mile and a half in 
breadth, and comprises the borough and market- 
town of Stoke-upon-Trent, and the several town- 
ships and villages of Hanley, Shelton, Etruria, 
Burslem with Long-port and Brown-hills, Lane- 
end with Longton, Tunstal, Lane Delph, Fen- 
ton, Cobridge, and their neighbourhoods. The 
country abounds with coal and clay, which, with 
its canal intercourse, extending to all parts of the 
country, make it the most eligible and most pros- 
perous seat of the manufactures for which it has 
so long been distinguished. We shall give a 
short account of each of the interesting places of 
which "The Potteries" is composed. 

Stoke-upon-Trent is a parish, market-town, 
and borough (by the Reform Bill) ; Population, 
37,220, having more than doubled since 1801, 
when it was but 16,414. Market day, Saturday; 
annual fair, first Monday in August. An. As. 
Val. £59,553. It is situated, as its name implies, 
on the River Trent, and the Trent and Mersey 
Canal passes through it. The parish, including 
a district of 1 7 square miles, contains nine town- 
ships, four chapelries, and one liberty. It had 
formerly a very ancient church, dedicated to St. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 73 

Peter : it has, however, given place to a modern 
structure, erected in 1826, partly by subscription 
among the inhabitants of the town, and the work- 
men of the Potteries, and partially by a parochial 
rate. The monument, which was originally erected 
in the old church, to the memory of the highly 
respected and enterprising Josiah Wedgwood, in 
1795, has been removed to the new church. The 
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Stafford 
and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry; K. B. 
£41 Os. lOd. ; patrons, the dean and chapter of 
Lichfield. 

The town contains many china manufactories, 
wharfs, and warehouses, and is considered the 
parish town of the Potteries. The New Boundary 
Act (an appendix to the Reform Bill) somewhat 
curtails the extent of the parish, which was origi- 
nally of much greater extent. The Reform Bill 
created this town a borough, and William Foster 
Copeland, Esq., alderman of London, and one 
of the largest china manufacturers in England, in 
conjunction with John Davenport, Esq., of West- 
wood Hall, now represent it in Parliament. The 
constituents are householders of £10 and upwards, 
and are about 1,500 in number. This was the first 
place in which a steam engine was erected for 
grinding calcined flint. There are places of wor- 
ship in the town for various sects of dissenters, 
and a commodious school, in which about 500 
children are educated upon the national plan. 

Hanley is a market town and chapelry, in the 
parish of Stoke, about two miles from Newcastle ; 
Pop. 7121. Markets, Wednesday and Saturday. 

H 



74 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

A large market for cattle is also held four times 
a year. The chapel is a handsome and commo- 
dious structure, erected in 1788, and is remarkable 
for its tower, which is 100 feet in height. The 
living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry 
of Stafford and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, 
endowed with £1,100 private benefaction, £1,000 
by the Crown, and £200 by a parliamentary 
grant; patrons, the trustees. There are also 
places of worship for various denominations of 
Dissenters, a Roman Catholic chapel ; and a Na- 
tional School, supported by subscription, in which 
500 children are educated. The Grand Trunk 
Canal flows near the town, and such is the 
quantity of earthenware exported, that there is 
a company established for the express purpose 
of carrying that article. The town contains a 
Mechanics' Institution, and an excellent Dis- 
pensary. 

Shelton is a township and chapelry, 2 miles 
E.N.E. of Newcastle : Pop. 9,267. The Trent 
and Mersey Canal passes through the village and 
much facilitates its trade. There are upwards of 
thirty manufactories in the town, which employ 
upwards of three thousand of its inhabitants. 
The village is well paved, and lighted with gas. 
In it is a British and Foreign School, in which 
600 children are instructed, Sunday schools, 
belonging to the establishment and to dissenters, 
and a Mechanics' Institution. The living is a 
curacy, in the archdeaconry of Stafford and 
diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, not in charge ; 
patron, the rector of Stoke-upon-Trent. There 



(BRAND JUNCTION LINE. 75 

are also places of worship for various denomina- 
tions of Dissenters. 

In this township are the potteries, and the villa 
of Etruria, erected by the celebrated Josiah 
Wedgwood, and so named from Mr. Wedge- 
wood's ingenious imitation of the Etruscan Vases. 
The villa is remarkable for the beauty of its situa- 
tion and the classical arrangement of its architec- 
tural details. Elijah Fen ton, the poet, was born 
in this village ; the house in which he lived is 
still existing. (For Races, see Index, Potteries.) 

Burslem is a market-town and parish, situated 
3 miles from Newcastle, on a gentle eminence 
near the Trent and Mersey Canal; Pop. 12,714; 
An. As. Val. £22,208. Market days, Monday 
and Saturday. Fairs, February 24, April 14, 
June 28, October 13, December, 26 for cattle 
and horses. The ancient Church, dedicated to 
St. Peter, is a brick edifice, with a massive square 
tower. The living is a curacy, in the archdeaconry 
of Stafford and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry ; 
K. B. £22. 9s. 6d. A District Church has been 
erected, to the building of which the Parliamentary 
Commissioners contributed £8,000, the curacy of 
which is subordinate to the original living. Here 
are also places of worship for various denomina- 
tions of dissenters, a Catholic Chapel ; a hand- 
some Town Hall, or Market House, in which are 
an elegant News Room, and the Offices of Police ; 
a Free Grammar School; and several Sunday 
Schools. It is also remarkable as being the origi- 
nal seat of the Staffordshire Potteries : by far the 
major part of its inhabitants are at present occu- 



76 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

pied in this branch of manufacture, which is now 
perhaps not inferior to china itself. Josiah Wedge- 
wood here cut the first clod of the Trent and 
Mersey Canal, a work which has been of such 
infinite importance to the district. 

Longport and Bbownhills are portions of 
the parish of Burslem, and their population is 
included in the Burslem return. 

Lane-end and Longton, a market town, and 
a hamlet, forming together an extensive town- 
ship, 4 miles from Newcastle ; Population, 9,608. 
Market days, Wednesday and Saturday ; fairs, 
Feb. 14, May 20, July 23, Nov. 1. The church 
was built in 1764, rebuilt in 1795, and enlarged 
in 1828; it is a chapel-of-ease to Stoke-upon- 
Trent ; the living is a perpetual curacy in the 
gift of trustees. A new church is building under 
the direction of the Parliamentary Commission- 
ers ; there are also places of worship for me- 
thodists, independents, baptists, and Roman 
Catholics, and there are two Free Schools. This 
most prosperous town has risen into opulence 
within a comparatively few years. 

Tunstan, or Tunstan Court, a market town 
and liberty in the parish of Walstanton ; it is 
situated on an eminence four miles N. by E. from 
Newcastle ; market on Saturdays ; Population, 
3673, chiefly employed in the manufacture of 
bricks, tiles, and porcelain, and in its neighbour- 
ohod are fine veins of coal, clay, and iron ore. 
The Grand Trunk Canal passes within half a 
mile of the town, and the great double Tunnel, 
which runs for two miles under Hare Castle 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 77 

Hill is in the vicinity. The Church was erected 
partially by a grant from the Parliamentary Com- 
missioners, and partly by subscriptions among the 
inhabitants ; the right of presentation to the living 
is vested in the perpetual curate of Wolstanton. 
There are three Wesleyan Chapels in the town, 
also a neat Court and Market House. 

Lane Delph, Fenton, and Cobridge are 
small hamlets, but contain some extensive pottery 
works, which employ a considerable population ; 
this, however, is included in the townships to 
which they belong. 

WO ORE is a small township in the parish of 
Mucklestone, hundred of Bradford, and county of 
Salop ; Population, 400, principally agricultural. 
The living is a curacy, subordinate to the rectory 
of Mucklestone; K.B. £18, P. R. £27; patron, 
the Rector of Mucklestone. There is an annuity 
attached to this township of £15, by which thirty 
poor children are educated — we should think 
" the shoolmaster must be abroad" with such a 
task and such emolument. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 



45 
45 



The cutting at Madeley is followed 
by a short embankment and excavation, 
which brings us to the 52^ post; the 
succeeding embankment is one mile in 
length, and carries us, with the aid of 
one bridge, across a portion of Whit- 
more Moss. The view is here bounded 
by hills on each side ; those to the right 
are in many places so rugged as to 
create the impression that you have sud- 



5\i 



78 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

denly been transported to the Highlands 
of Scotland, and that you are vegetating 
among the grouse. 

We have now attained a short level 53| 
of about half a mile; we then descend 
an inclined plane of 13^ mites in length, 
varying from I in 390 to 1 in 650, which 
ends at the 65| post. On the right 
hand, near this post, is a goodly farm- 
house, rejoicing in the euphonious title 
of Bog Hall ; the resident is Mr. Jones. 
A deep cutting, two miles in length, and 
crossed by two bridges, is next entered ; 
the mossy character of the ground con- 
tinues for about a mile ; the remainder 
of the cutting is through earth and spongy 
rock. Just before the post marked 54^ 
is the 

WHITMORE STATION. 

Miles. 1st Class. 2d Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester.. 54£ lis. 6d. 8s. Od. 

From Birmingham 43 9s. Od. 6s. 6d. 

WHITMORE, a parish in the north divi- 
sion of the hundred of Pirehill, in the county of 
Stafford; Pop. 281. The annual value of real 
property assessed in 1815 was £2,433. The 
living is a curacy, subordinate to Stoke-upon- 
Trent, in the archdeaconry of Stafford, and dio- 
cese of Lichfield and Coventry, not in charge. 
(Line continued p. 82.) 

From this station Newcastle is 5 miles, Lane- 
end 9, Trentham 5, and Leek 16 eastward; 
Market Dravton is 10 miles westward. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 79 

For Newcastle, see page 69. 

For Lane-End, see page 76. 
TRENTHAM is a parish and township in 
the hundred of Pirehill and county of Stafford. 
Pop., parish, 2,344; An. As. Val. £11,909; 
Pop., town, 631, principally employed in the 
manufacture of bricks and tiles, the most of 
which are of a dark blue colour. The Trent and 
Mersey Canal passes through the parish. The 
church is a very ancient structure, dedicated to 
St. Mary ; the living is a perpetual curacy, in the 
archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese of Lichfield 
and Coventry, endowed with £1,400 by parlia- 
mentary grant and the Crown ; K. B. £14; P. R. 
£113 9s. 2d. ; the patronage is vested in the Duke 
of Sutherland, who takes the title of V T iscount 
Trentham from this place. About the end of the 
10th century, Ethelred here erected a nunnery, 
of which he appointed his sister the abbess. In 
the reign of Henry I., about a century after- 
wards, it was converted into a priory of Augus- 
tine Canons ; no vestige now remains of the esta- 
blishment. 

LEEK is a market-town and parish in the 
northern division of Totmonslow, situated on an 
eminence near the Churnet, a branch of the river 
Trent, in the moor -lands of Staffordshire ; Pop. 
town and parish, 10,780, town, 873, principally 
occupied in the manufacture of silk and cotton ; 
An. As. Val. £4,958. Market on Wednesday ; 
fairs, February 7, Easter Wednesday, May 18, 
Whit Wednesday, July 3 and 28, Wednesday 
after October 10, for cattle of all sorts, and ped- 



80 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

lars* ware; Wednesday before old Candlemas, 
and November 13, for cattle and pedlars' ware. 
A branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal passes 
near the town. The church, dedicated to St. 
Edward, is an ancient Gothic structure, with a 
square tower; K. B. £7 Is. 9|d., endowed with 
£1,000 by the Crown, private benefaction, and 
Parliamentary grant.. In the church-yard is a 
curious pyramidal cross, decorated with fretwork 
and various imagery ; antiquarians state that it 
is of Danish origin. Here are places of worship 
for various denominations of Dissenters, and one 
belonging to the Society of Friends; a free 
endowed Grammar School ; Almshouses for eight 
widows, endowed by Mrs. Ashe; several Sunday 
Schools, one of which has from 1,000 to 1,500 
regular attendants ; and a Savings Bank. The 
hills in the neighbourhood (some of which have a 
very remarkable appearance, and present certain 
indications of volcanic origin,) abound with coal, 
and in many places are deeply impregnated with 
lead strata ; from this portion of them issues a sa- 
line spring, which forms a chemical experiment by 
the addition of gauls, which immediately turns it 
as black as ink. A curious phenomena is seen 
in this neighbourhood at certain seasons of the 
year — which is, that the sun sets twice in the 
same evening ; this is caused by the intervention 
of one of those remarkable hills above alluded to; 
for, after it has sunk, or apparently set behind the 
summit of the mountain, it again appears on its 
northern side, when it will of course at even-tide 
exhibit its usual disappearance below the horizon. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 81 

MARKET DRAYTON, is a small market 
town and parish, partly in the hundred of Brad- 
ford-north, in the county of Salop, and partly in the 
in the hundred of Pirehill ; Pop. 4,619, principally 
employed in the manufacture of paper, and hair- 
cloth for seating ; An. As. Val. £16,777 Market 
on Wednesday ; fairs, Wednesday before Palm 
Sunday, September 19, October 24, for horned 
and other cattle, horses, and hempen and woollen 
cloth. Though now but a small township, it 
was formerly a British city of considerable dimen- 
sions, known under the name of Caer Draithon. 
B lore-heath, two miles from here, was the 
scene of an obstinately contested battle between 
the Yorkists, under the command of the Earl of 
Salisbury, and the Lancasterians, under Lord 
Audley ; the forces of the latter were nearly 
double those of the former, who, however, de- 
feated them with great slaughter, and in this case 
exhibited more than the usual talent of the com- 
manders of those times, having gained the victory 
entirely by his superior generalship. The business 
of this once prosperous town, has of late years 
sensibly fallen off, the opening of the Grand Trunk 
Canal having, it is supposed, diverted the tide of 
its prosperity, and enabled other towns to rival it 
with success. 

The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a very 
ancient edifice, and dates its origin from the early 
part of the 12th century ; the living is a vicarage, 
in the archdeaconry of Salop, and diocese of 
Lichfield and Coventry; K. B. £12 10s. 7d.; 
P. R. £130; patron, R. Corbet, Esq. In the 



82 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

town are places of worship for various classes of 
Dissenters, a free endowed Grammar School ; a 
School conducted on the national plan ; several 
bequests for clothing the poor; and an appren- 
ticeship fund. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manchester. 

This excavation now becomes very 55 
deep, and is in some places between 50 
and 60 feet below the fields. 

Swinnerton Park, the seat of Mr. 
Charbut, lord of the manor, is to the 
left ; the grounds are said to be seven 
miles in circumference. A pack of 
hounds is, we believe, kept there. 

About two miles more to the left 
or eastward, is Trentham, the magnifi- 
cent seat of the Duke of Sutherland ; 
this mansion is built on the plan of 
the late Buckingham-house (now the 
Queen's palace) ; the grounds are very 
extensive, and highly ornamented with 
hill and valley, wood and water ; the 
latter is abundantly supplied by the river 
Trent, which, in its course through the 
grounds, has been converted into arti- 
ficial lakes. A handsome, but some- 
what heavy family mausoleum, has been 
erected on the east side of the road, 
near the grounds ; this seat, being situ- 
ated in a valley, at the foot of four high 
hills, cannot be seen from the Railroad, 
particularly as this part of the Line is 
is in a deep cutting ; but the stranger, 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 83 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

in search of information, is not the less de- 
sirous of knowing that such a place is so 
near the line, nor will the foreigner, who 
may be contemplating a Railroad in 
his own country and neighbourhood, 
receive information with less gout, (as to 
the extent of occupation in a country 
through which a railroad passes, and 
by which it must in some measure be 
directly or indirectly supported,) because 
he cannot prove its correctness with his 
eyes. 

To the right, is Maer Hall ; and, a 
little further on, the township of Maer, 
The parish and township contains a po- 
pulation of 505, chiefly rural ; An. As. 
Val. £2,548 ; living, a curacy, in the 
archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese 
of Lichfield and Coventry; C. V. 
£20 6s. 8d. This is an ancient place; 
for we read that in 705 a great battle be- 
tween the Mercians and Northumbrians 
was here fought. An embankment of 
one mile in length here commences; it 
has one bridge over the Railroad, and 
two under. To the right is Hill Chorl- 
ton (pop. 135) ; a little further, on the left, 
opposite 55|, is Shelton Farm, occupied 55f 
by Mr. Dimmock ; Mr. Beat's mill, and 
the village of Stapleford, are on the 
right. Chapel Chorlton (pop. 251; An. 
As. Val. £2,301) cannot be seen, but 
its scite is pointed out by the steeple of 



84 GRAND JUNCTIOiN LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

its church, which forms a conspicuous 
object just surmounting the hill. A little 
to the south-west of this village is a fine 
quarry, from which much of the stone 
for the bridges and works on this part of 
the line was obtained. 

41 \ A little more to the westward is 
Ashley, a parish and hamlet, in the 
northern division of the hundred of 
Pirehill, county of Stafford ; Pop. 825, 
chiefly rural; An. As. Val. £3,206. 
The church is dedicated to St. John 
the Baptist, and contains some very 
fine specimens of monumental sculp- 
ture : among others is a wall figure, in 
memory of William Kennesley, Esq., 
of Clough Hall, one of Chantry's hap- 
piest efforts. We have noticed this 
hamlet for the purpose of directing the 
attention of the artist and virtuoso to 
the sculpture, and particularly to this 
work, which is well worthy of their 
attention. The living is a rectory, in 
the archdeaconry of Wilts and diocese 
of Salisbury: K. B. £9 16s. 5*d. 
patron, we believe, J. L. Anwill, Esq. 

40j| Here, an excavation of little more than 56| 
half a mile, across which is a bridge, 
brings us to one of the largest embank- 
ments on the line ; it is four miles in 
extent, and carries the Railroad across 
two bridges and under four. 

40 J Hatton Mill is to our left ; the village 57 



36J 



59 



59| 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 85 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'j". 

from which it is named is three quarters 
of a mile more to the eastward. 
38| To the left, 200 yards before this, is 
Standon Cottage, the residence of Mrs. 
Lunt. Just through the bridge, on the 
right, is Standon, a small parish and 
township, bounded on the north by the 
river Sow. Pop. 420; An. As. Val. 
£4,194. 

To the eastward is Swinnerton Hall, 
the seat of T. Fitzherbert, Esq. ; to the 
left is Mill Meese. The river Sow runs 
near the Railroad for about twelve miles, 
when, turning off to the eastward, it 
falls into the Trent. The country from 
this spot is well worthy of attention, 
presenting a fine prospect, and being 
well wooded. 

We now proceed for some distance 
without anything particularly worthy of 
attention; a little past the 61 mile-post, 
we arrive at the end of this long embank- 
ment, which is followed by an alternate 
succession of ten embankments and ex- 
cavations, averaging from one quarter to 
three-quarters of a mile in length, but 
not of sufficient importance to require a 
separate notice ; in travelling these four 
miles, we pass under six, and over six 
bridges. 

Here is Hames Farm, occupied by 
Mr. Robertson, and, a little past the 62| 
mile-post, we arrive at the 
i 



61 



36 



61* 



86 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r . 

NORTON BRIDGE STATION". 

Miles. 2d Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 62§ . 9s. 6d. 

From Birmingham 34f . 5s. Od. 

From here Eccleshall is 2 J miles west; 
Stone 3, and Cheadle 14 eastward. 

NORTON is a small township in the 
parish of Chebsey, and south division 
of the hundred of Pirehill ; Pop. by re- 
turn of 1821, 44; return of 1831, 37; 
An. As. Val. £J,543. This is one of 
the few places in which the population 
has decreased. (Line continued p. 89.) 

ECCLESHALL, a market town, parish, and 
township in the north division of the hundred of 
Pirehill, county of Stafford, pleasantly situated 
on one of the rivulets that flow into the river Sow; 
Pop., town 1,285, town and parish 4,471, essen- 
tially agricultural. Market on Friday ; fairs, 
Thursday before Mid Lent Thursday, Holy Thurs- 
day, Aug. 16, and first Friday in November, for 
cattle, sheep, and horses. An. As. Val. 23,454. 
The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is an 
ancient structure, in the early English style of 
architecture, but principally remarkable as the 
place in which Queen Margaret took sanctuary 
when she fled from Mucklestone after Lord Aud- 
ley's disgraceful defeat by the Marquis of Salis- 
bury. The living is a discharged vicarage, and 
a peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield ; 
value K. B. £7 14s. 4d., P. E. £97 12s.; 
endowed with £1,300 by the Crown, private 
benefaction, and Parliamentary grant. Patron, 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 87 

the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. Here is 
also a chapel for Independents, a grammar school, 
supported by rates, and a school on the national 
plan, supported by subscriptions. The castle of 
Eccleshall, which is the palace of the Bishop of 
Lichfield and Coventry, traces its origin to a 
very early period, the first mention of it is in the 
reign of John, who " empowered Bishop Mus- 
champ to embattle the castle and make a park;" 
this mention proves the existence of the edifice 
at an earlier period. In 1310 it was in a very 
dilapidated state and was then rebuilt. Little 
more than three centuries sufficed, to reduce it 
once more to a state of decay, not, however, 
unassisted by man, for we learn that the castle 
was besieged by the Parliamentary forces, and, 
after being severely battered, the garrison sur- 
rendered. In 1695 Bishop Lloyd restored it, 
and ever since it has been the principal residence 
of the Bishops of Lichfield and Coventry. 

STONE is a market town and parish in the 
southern division of the hundred of Pirehill, county 
of Stafford, on the banks of the river Trent ; Pop. 
7,808; An. As. Val. £31,756. Market, Tues- 
day; fairs, Tuesday after Mid Lent, Shrove 
Tuesday, Whit Wednesday, August 5, and Sep- 
tember 25, for cattle. A vast quantity of shoes 
are made in this town ; it has also a patent roller 
pump manufactory, and several mills for grinding 
flints : the Grand Trunk Canal has added much 
to the prosperity of the town. The church, de- 
dicated to St. Michael, is a modern structure, 
with a low square tower, in the style of early 
English architecture. The altar-piece is a fine 



88 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

painting' by Sir William Beecbey — St. Michael 
binding Satan. The living is a curacy in the 
archdeaconry of Stafford and diocese of Lichfield 
and Coventry, C. V. £4 13s. Endowed vvitb 
£200 by the Crown, and £13 per annum 
by private benefaction. Patron, the Lord 
Chancellor. The reputed origin of the town is 
curious. Wolferus, king of Mercia, embraced 
Christianity after the death of his father, but 
relapsed to paganism ; in which religion he 
educated his two sons, who, however, were 
converted, and became disciples of St. Chad, a 
zealous Christian ecclesiastic, Bishop of Lich- 
field, (afterwards canonized), which so incensed 
the king that he put them to death. The Saxons, 
as usual, formed a caern, by heaping stones over 
the bodies of the two princes, in commemoration 
of the dreadful act. Wolferus, after some time, 
was reconverted to Christianity, when he founded 
a monastery to expiate his crime ; and his queen, 
Ermilda, the mother of the murdered princes, 
erected a nunnery over their tomb ; a town 
gradually arose in the neighbourhood, which, 
in commemoration of the event, was called 
Stone ; the female votaries were some time after 
removed, from the nunnery, which was then con- 
verted into a priory, by filling it with canons from 
Kenilworth Abbey. Stone was the birth-place of 
the celebrated Earl St. Vincent, and his remains 
were interred in its church-yard. 

CHEADLE is a small market town and 
parish in the south division of the hundred of 
Totmonslow, county of Stafford, pleasantly situ- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 89 

ated in a beautiful and romantic valley, sur- 
rounded by wooded hills. Pop. 4,119; An. As. 
Val. £1,348. Market on Friday; fairs, January 1, 
March 25, Holy Thursday, for horned cattle; 
August 18, August 24; for horses and horned 
cattle. Here is a large tape manufactory. From 
the proximity of the coal mines, the town has many 
manufactories of brass, copper, and tin ; among 
others, a brass wire and copper roller manufac- 
tory, which is well worth attention : proprietors, 
Messrs. Patten and Co. The church, dedicated to 
St. Giles, is an ancient structure, in the decorated 
style of English architecture, with a square em- 
battled tower. The living is a rectory in the 
archdeaconry of Stafford and diocese of Lichfield 
and Coventry; K. B. £12 9s. 2d.; Patron, 
Trinity College, Cambridge. It has also a chapel 
of ease (the living of which is in the gift of the 
rector), several places of worship for dissenters, 
a Roman Catholic chapel, a free school, endowed 
by a Mr. Stubbs, and one upon the national plan. 
Since the opening of the Grand Trunk Canal, the 
commercial importance of this town has consider- 
ably increased. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 



34 



There is nothing that can excite the 
inquiry of the traveller until we arrive at 
the 63rd mile post, when the river Sow 
is again seen approaching the railroad, 
and, by its quiet, silvery, slow meander- 
ing, contrasted with the rapidity of the 
carriages, forcibly reminds us of the 
singular change which a few years have 



62j 

63 



63J 



64J 



90 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

made in onr powers of migration. In 
the landscape, however, a railroad is not 
so pleasing an object as the stream ; 
and there are some who believe that for 
the conveyance of heavy merchandize, 
the question is still to be answered — will 
it ever be so economical a means of trans- 
port as a canal ? 

To the left is the village of Shallow- 
ford. Here the Sow flows under the rail- 
way (this river affords excellent sport to 
the angler) and accompanies the railroad 
in its immediate vicinity to Stratford. 

About 20 yards before this post is a 
large building, the machinery of which is 
set in motion by the current of the Sow ; 
it is Mr. Milner's silk factory, which 
gives employment to many of the poor 
in the neighbourhood. 

Here to the left is the village of Bridge- 
ford, and a quarter of a mile further is 
the 

BRIDGEFORD STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 64§ . 9s. 6d. 

From Birmingham 32§ . 4s. 6d 

From the 66th mile post the railroad 

has a rise of 1 in 2,105 ; this continues 

for about two miles and three quarters, 

which will take us half a mile beyond 

Stafford, in proceeding to which place, 

we pass under four bridges and over 

one, through three excavations of a 



Mh 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE- 91 

From Birmingham. From I/pool & Manch'r. 

quarter of a mile each, or rather more, 
over one embankment of the same 
length, and another across Seighford 
meadows of two miles ; we have, how- 
ever, some objects to notice on our way. 
Sandon Hall, the beautiful seat of the 65 
Earl of Harrowby, lies about five miles 
to the right of this post (or westward). 
This noble mansion is erected on the . 
site of an ancient fortified house, on 
the declivity of a considerable hill, from 
which an extensive and rich prospect is 
obtained. The erection is of stone, which 
was obtained from a quarry near the 
spot. In the grounds is an elegant 
Obelisk, erected to the memory of Wil 
Ham Pitt. The remains of strong walls 
are traceable, and the moat which for- 
merly surrounded it is still to be seen. 
Sampson Eardwick, the celebrated 
Staffordshire antiquary, was born in 
the ancient edifice. He died in 1603, 
and there is a handsome monument 
erected to his memory in Sandon 
Church. To the right is Seighford 
Hall, Francis Eld, Esq.; this gentle- 
man keeps a pack of otter hounds, 
which occasionally have excellent sport. 
The embankment is here across the 
Seighford meadows, in which are abun- 
dance of snipes; occasionally herons 
also may be found. The river Sow has 
for some time been on the left of the ' 



92 GRAND JUNCTION LTNE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

Railroad; a little further on it passes 
under a handsome iron bridge, with 
stone piers, and pursues a similar course 
on the right. To the left is C res well 
Hall, a large white house with nume- 
rous offices ; it is the residence of the 
Rev. T. Whitley. 

On the right, about a mile and a half 
. distant the towers of Stafford Castle 
may be plainly seen emerging from the 
trees. The site of this castle has been 
occupied as a fortalice from the time 
of William, who appointed Robert de 
Toeni (the progenitor of the present 
house of Stafford) governor ; it was 
afterwards rebuilt in the time of Ed- 
ward the Third, by Ralph de Stafford, 
and in the civil war was garrisoned by 
the Royalists under the Earl of North- 
ampton, who perished in a sharp skir- 
mish on Hop ton Heath. After his 
death the castle was taken by the 
Parliamentarians, and eventually demo- 
lished. Sir William Jerningham under- 
built the walls of the ruin, to prevent 
their falling; since then Sir George 
restored the existing portion of it (one 
front flanked by two round towers), 
about half a century since ; and it now 
has a very imposing appearance, as seen 
from the Railroad. 

The road still continues through these 
marshy fields, and, though the embank- ' 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 93 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

ment is so slight, the engineer had 
considerable trouble in its completion ; 
a vast quantity of earth having been 
used before a solid superstructure could 
be formed. At the 68J post is the 

STAFFORD STATION. 

Miles. 1st CI. 2dCl. 

Fr che^rT oland M ? n ;} 68 i i4s -° d - ios -° d - 

From Birmingham 29 5s. 6d. 4s. Od. 

From this station Newport is twelve 
miles westward, Uttoxeter 14, Sandon 
5, Rugeley 9, Lichfield 1 7, eastward. 
(Line continued p. 102.J 

STAFFORD, a borough, market town, and 
parish, in the south division of the hundred of 
Pirehill and county of Stafford, it is situated 
on the north bank of the river Sow, three miles 
from its junction with the Trent; Pop. 6,998, 
An. As. Val. £5,780. The principal trade of 
the town consists in making boots and shoes, 
tanning leather, and, to a certain extent, cutlery 
and cabinet work ; the two former are, however, 
its most prominent objects of trade. Market 
on Saturday ; fairs, Tuesday before Shrove 
Tuesday, April 3, May 7 and 14, for horses 
and cattle ; Saturday before St. Peter and June 
29, for wool; September 16, 17, 18, for cattle 
and horses ; October 2, for colts ; December 4, 
for cattle and pigs. The corporation of the town 
consists of a mayor, ten aldermen, ten principal 
burgesses, a recorder, town clerk, sergeants-at- 



94 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

mace, and several subordinate officers. The 
town sends two members to Parliament; the 
mayor is the returning- officer. It has two 
churches — St. Mary's, formerly collegiate, a cru- 
ciform structure, in the early English style of 
architecture, with a lofty octagonal tower, and 
St. Chad's, a small edifice, principally in the 
Norman style of architecture, with a tower in the 
later English style. The living of St. Mary's 
is a rectory, with the perpetual curacy of St. 
Chad's, in the archdeaconry of Stafford and 
diocese of Lichfield and Coventry ; the former 
not in charge, (patron, the Lord Chancellor), 
the latter C. V. £7 10s., P. R. £49; patron, one 
of the prebendaries of Lichfield Cathedral. 
Here are places of worship for various denomi- 
nations of dissenters, and a Catholic chapel. 
The principal trade of the place is the tanning 
of leather, the making of boots and shoes (for 
which it has long been remarkable), malt, cabi- 
net work, and cutlery. The grammar school of 
this town is of very ancient origin ; it was, how- 
ever, re founded by Edward VI. in 1550, who 
much increased its revenues. The present in- 
come is from £350 to £400 per annum. The 
school is open to the sons of any person belong- 
ing to the town ; the masters are in the appoint- 
ment of the corporation, i The charities are 
numerous: among others is the Institution 
for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Cler- 
gymen of the County of Stafford, which is 
liberally supported by annual subscriptions, and 
has also an endowment of £2,400, South Sea An- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 95 

nuities. The Hospital is a commodious buildings 
with every requisite such an establishment can 
require ; it has about £3,000 in the funds, and 
has a liberal list of annual contributors. Medical 
students, who attend this institution regularly, 
have the same professional advantages as those 
derived from the London hospitals. The Luna- 
tic Asylum is a building on a large scale, and, 
with the grounds, gardens, &c, covers 30 acres, 
and Almshouses for 12 aged persons. The Coun- 
ty Hall is the finest piece of architecture in the 
town ; in it is an armoury, containing 1,000 stand 
of arms for the Staffordshire militia. The County 
Goal is also a fine building; but we have not 
room for further details — we trust sufficient has 
been given to assure the stranger that the town 
is worth a visit. We must, however, notice, 
that the hotels are numerous and highly respect- 
able ; but if our reader should happen to be an 
an old bachelor, or a man who has seen the world, 
and who prefers a good table and snug quar- 
ters to show and exhibition, we would verily 
recommend our old friend Morris, at the Vine 
Inn, in Vine-street, pledging our own particular 
experience that he will no where find a better 
bed, a better bottle, or better board, than at this 
antiquated-looking hostelrie, the very appear- 
ance of which bears the significant expression of 
comfort, which expression is never eradicated 
by the appearance of a bill with extortionate 
charges, for here every thing is as reasonable 
as good things can be. 

Stafford gives the title of Baron to the family 



96 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

of Jerningham, and of Marquis to that of Gower. 
(For Races, see Index.) 

NEWPORT, a market town and parish in the 
hundred of Bradford, county of Salop, situated 
near the Roman Watling Street, on the borders 
of Staffordshire; Pop. 2,745, An. As. Val. £4,396. 
This town possesses no manufacture of import- 
ance. Malting is, however, carried on to a con- 
siderable extent; mines of coal and iron and 
several corn mills are in its neighbourhood, and 
are the basis of the little business attached to 
the town. The market is held on Saturday; 
fairs, J st Tuesday in February, Saturday before 
Palm Sunday, May 28, July 27, for horned 
cattle, horses, and sheep ; September 25, for 
cattle, sheep, and hogs; and December 10, for 
fat cattle — when the 10th falls on a Sunday, 
the market is held on Saturday. The church, 
dedicated to St. Nicholas, is in the early English 
style of architecture, with some little modern 
innovation. The living is a curacy in the arch- 
deaconry of Salop and diocese of Lichfield and 
Coventry, not in charge ; patron, the Lord 
Chancellor. In the time of Henry VI. the 
church was made collegiate for a warden and 
four lay chaplains, by Thomas Draper, a rich 
citizen of London. There are chapels for vari- 
ous denominations of dissenters, and one for 
Roman Catholics. The corporation consists of 
a high and deputy steward, two bailiffs, and 
twenty-five burgesses. Here is a richly endowed 
free school, a school on the national plan, some 
almshouses, and a market hall. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 97 

UTTOXETER, a market town and parish, 
in the south division of the hundred of Totmon- 
slow and county of Stafford, occupies a lofty 
situation near the river Dove ; Pop. 4,864, An. 
As. Val. £24,257. Market on Wednesday, prin- 
cipally for corn ; fairs, Tuesday before Old Can- 
dlemas, Thursday in Easter week, May 6, June 
3, July 4 and 31, for horned cattle and sheep ; 
September 1, 19, November 1 1 and 27, for colts and 
horned cattle. The town depends chiefly upon 
the influx of persons attending its excellent mar- 
kets. It has, however, a good trade in clock 
cases, malt, corn, cheese ; a great many bricks 
are made in the neighbourhood, in w 7 hich also 
there are a number of forges. The Grand 
Trunk Canal, which passes near one end of the 
town, very much assists the export of bricks. 

The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, has been 
rebuilt in the Gothic style, with the exception of 
the ancient tower and beautiful and lofty spire, 
which is 150 feet high. The living is a dis- 
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Stafford and 
diocese of Lichfield and Coventry ; K. B. 
£7 Is. 8d. Patrons, the dean and canons of 
Windsor. Here are also places of worship for 
various dissenters and the society of friends, a 
Free Grammar-school for 15 boys, a National 
School, supported by subscription, Almshouses 
for twelve poor people, and an Apprentice Fund 
of £60 per annum. The town has a fine stone 
Bridge, over the Dove, and a handsome Market 
Place. This was the birth-place of Admiral 
Gardner, who successfully opposed Home Tooke 

K 



98 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

in the representation of Westminster. It is 
said, that the gallant admiral was more fright- 
ened at Tooke's wit, satire, and eloquence, than 
he would have been at a shower of cannon balls 
from the enemy. 

SANDON, a parish in the south division of 
the hundred of Pirehill, county of Stafford. 
Pop. 558, chiefly rural. An. As. Val. £5,170. 
The Church, dedicated to All Saints, contains 
an elegant monument to the geologist, Sampson 
Eardwick, who died in 1603. The living is a 
dis-rectory, in the archdeaconry of Stafford and 
diocese of Lichfield and Coventry; K. B. 
£7 10s. Patron, the Earl of Harrowby. The 
Grand Trunk Canal passes here, parallel with 
the Trent. 

RUGELEY, a market-town and parish, in 
the east division of the hundred of Cuttlestone, 
county of Stafford, pleasantly situated on the 
main road between Stafford and Lichfield, near 
the south bank of the River Trent, over which 
which the Grand Trunk Canal is carried by a 
noble Aqueduct. Pop. 3,165; An. As. Val. 
£6,383. The chief trade of the place is in iron, 
brass, tin-plates, hats ; there are also some 
chemical works attached to the town, for the 
manufacture of white lead and verdigrease. 
The Grand Trunk Canal passes the town, 
giving it the benefit of this great inland naviga- 
tion. The Church, dedicated to St. Augustine, 
has been rebuilt, with the exception of the tower 
and chancel of the ancient church, which still 
remain. The stone was given by the Marquis 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 99 

of Anglesea, who is lord of the manor. The 
living is a discharged vicarage, and a peculiar 
of the dean and chapter of Lichfield; K. B. 
£5 2s. It is endowed with £400 by the Crown 
and private benefactions. Patrons, the dean and 
chapter of Lichfield. Here is a Free Grammar 
School, endowed by Walter Wolsley with estates 
which now produce £320 per annum, in which 
the children of the parish may receive a classical 
or commercial education, at the option of their 
parents, an endowed School on the national 
plan, and Almshouses for four aged women. 
(For Races, see Index.) 

LICHFIELD is a city and county of 
itself, with separate jurisdiction, but within the 
northern division of the hundred of Offlow, 
county Stafford, pleasantly situated in the 
midst of a fertile valley, and surrounded by 
gently swelling hills, on the banks of a stream 
which falls into the Trent. Pop. 6,499. It is 
principally dependent on its local trade. Its 
neighbourhood, however, produces abundance 
of vegetables, with which it supplies the popu- 
lous district which surrounds it. Its breed of 
cattle is also of a very superior kind, and is in 
great demand. The Wyrley and Essington 
Canal passes near the city. Markets, Tuesday 
and Friday. Fairs, Jan. 10, Shrove Tuesday, 
and Ash Wednesday, for iron, cheese, bacon, 
and cattle; May 12, for sheep and cattle; first 
Tuesday in November, for geese and cheese. 
Some have derived its name from the term 
Lichfield, signifying the field of the dead, up- 



100 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

wards of a thousand Christians having perished 
here in the Dioclesian persecution : others 
maintain that the name is descriptive of its 
situation, which was formerly in a marshy 
ground, and assert it is derived from the word 
lick, signifying a morass. These disputes are, 
however, of little importance to our purpose, 
which is much more interested in the present 
than in its past state. It is a corporate city, 
and received its first charter from Edward the 
Sixth, which was confirmed, with additional privi- 
leges, by Mary. In 1553 it was constituted a 
county. Queen Elizabeth and James the First 
ratified these charters; and, in 1664, the charter 
under which its corporation exists was granted by 
Charles the Second ; for though James the Second, 
during his short but arbitrary career, demanded 
and received the surrender of its ancient charter 
(1686), yet, within two years afterwards, he 
was forced to issue a proclamation restoring its 
ancient privileges. The Corporation consists of 
two bailiffs, and twenty-four brethren, who are 
empowered to elect a recorder, high steward, 
and sheriff. The bailiffs are elected from the 
council, one being appointed by that body, and 
one by the bishop. The city sends two mem- 
bers to Parliament. The number of electors is 
about 700 ; the sheriff is the returning officer. 
The ecclesiastical officers of Lichfield Cathedral 
consist of a bishop, dean, precentor, chancellor, 
treasurer, four archdeacons, viz., Coventry, 
Derby, Salop, Stafford, twenty-seven prebenda- 
ries, five priests, vicars, seven lay clerks, and 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 101 

eight choristers. Its revenues are stated in 
K. B. at £559 17s. 3Jd; those of the dean 
and chapter at £275 13s. 4d. The Cathedral, 
dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is a most mag- 
nificent structure, in the decorated Gothic style 
of architecture; its western front is a most 
majestic specimen of the pointed order. The 
interior of this edifice is remarkable for its 
many admirable specimens of sculpture, among 
which are the busts of Dr. Johnson (who was 
born in this city), and David Garrick; but the 
most exquisite specimen of the perfection at 
which this art has arrived is the monument 
erected to the memory of the two infant children 
of Mrs. Robinson ; the classic elegance of the 
design is well worthy of the taste, beauty, and 
finish of the execution. The infatuated bigots 
who composed the portion of the army that 
besieged Lichfield in the civil wars, committed 
the most scandalous excesses in this majestic 
pile, defacing its monuments and breaking 
the exquisite tracery which once ornamented 
it, the groined roof of the nave being almost 
the only portion of the building that escaped 
injury. The livings are all peculiar, in the 
patronage of the dean and chapter of Lich- 
field. St. Mary's, a dis-vicarage, K. B. £10; St. 
Chad's, a curacy, not in charge, P. R. £89 10s; 
St. Michael's, a curacy, not in charge, P. R. 
£91 12s. Here are also places of worship for 
various denominations of dissenters, and a 
Catholic Chapel. The charities in this city are 
very numerous and important, among which are 



102 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

a Free Grammar-school, founded by Queen 
Elizabeth, several schools on the national plan, 
a Dispensary, Almshouses, an Hospital for 
men and women, Newton's Charity for twenty 
females not under fifty years of age, and relicts 
or daughters of clergymen of the Establishment; 
an appointment to this confers a neat residence 
and fifty pounds per year. There are other 
bequests for the benefit of the poor, which 
amount to about £1,000 per annum. The 
principal buildings are the Cathedral, before 
mentioned, the Guildhall, Market House, and 
Theatre, respecting which latter we must mention, 
it was the first in which Mrs. Siddons appeared 
after her marriage. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

29 The embankment, which commences 68J 
immediately after we pass through the 
next bridge, is for some time very 
slight, but from here to the 68% post 
is the portion of the line which gave 
the engineer most trouble. Many days 
were employed in throwing in ballast, 
but without any visible effect. It was 
ultimately made firm by placing a layer 
of trees, brushwood, &e. upon which 
ballast was placed; until it gradually 
sunk to a substance sufficiently solid 
to stop it. Upon a subsequent in- 
spection of this foundation, it was 
found that the platform was bent in 
the form of a curve, from the pressure 
above acting on the spongy- surface 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 103 

Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

below; it is, however, now perfectly 
solid. 

Four miles to the left is Ingestrie 68^ 
Hall, the seat of Earl Talbot. This 
venerable mansion has been in this 
family since the time of Edward the 
Third, and though it has undergone ex- 
tensive alterations, still retains the style 
of architecture denominated Elizabeth- 
an. It is situated on the acclivity of a 
hill, and is surrounded by extensive 
and well wooded grounds; these are 
ornamented with noble walks, which 
are sometimes seen skirting the woods, 
and at others are lost in their deepening 
shades. The earldom was created in 
1784, and conferred by George the 
Third upon John Chetwynd Talbot, by 
the title of Earl Talbot of Ingestrie. 

Immediately to the left is Haugh 
House, occupied, we believe, by the 
Rev. — Hill. To the right is Rowley 
House; W. Keen, Esq. was, and we 
believe still is, the proprietor. 

Just through the skew bridge, 300 
yards before the 68f post, a singular 
phenomenon presented itself in the at- 
tempt to erect the embankment. Vast 
quantities of material disappeared at 
this spot, the men being employed six 
weeks in throwing in ballast. As it 
disappeared in the bog, the ground in 
the neighbouring field was observed to 



104 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingliam. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

rise until, after a time, it exhibited the 
appearance of a huge fungus, of perhaps 
200 yards circumference at the base. 
Perseverance did, however, overcome 
this difficulty, and I believe the bed 
of the Railroad is here as firm as any 
portion of the line, although the work- 
men almost despaired of it ; frequently, 
in the progress of the work, having 
finished an apparently firm and straight 
embankment at night, which in the 
morning had either totally disappeared 
or materially sunk. 

Here the rise of the Railroad is much 
increased, it being for the next mile 
and a half 1 in 656, thence continually 
ascending (with the exception of two 
short levels) until the steep is increased 
to 1 in 330, which continues to the 84th 
mile, a little beyond Wolverhampton. 
The traveller will find a decided alter- 
ation in the speed of the carriages 
when he arrives at the 76th mile post, 
which will not be increased until he 
passes through the tunnel, just before 
the 83 \ post beyond the Wolverhamp- 
ton station. The ground at the 83J 
mile post is the highest on the line, it 
being 440 feet above low water mark at 
Liverpool, 50 above the high ground at 
Whitmore, 80 above the railway station 
at Birmingham, and 380 above the 
lowest ground on the line, which is at 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 105 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

the post marked 17J miles from Liver- 
pool, just where the Sankey Canal 
turns off towards Runcorn Gap, the 
rails there being barely 50 feet above 
low water mark. 

231 The embankment we are now on 
2 extends for one mile and a half, and 
passes under two bridges ; it is succeed- 
ed by a slight excavation of a quarter 
of a mile, over which are two more 
bridges : this brings us to the com- 
mencement of another embankment, 

ey«i opposite the 70th post. The village of » 
5 Rickersford is to the left. 

2^2 About four miles to the left, or east- 
4 ward, is Shugborough Park, the elegant 
seat of Lord Viscount Anson. The 
name of Anson is intimately associated 
with the naval glory of England ; and 
as the birth-place of that great com- 
mander and navigator, this spot receives 
an interest independent of that which 
it commands as an object of taste. 
This splendid mansion was consider- 
ably enlarged and ornamented some few 
years since ; the grounds and surround- 
ing scenery, however, attract the prin- 
cipal attention of the visitor — there 
nature and art combine to captivate the 
senses. The Trent and the Sow flow 
through grounds upon which science 
has exhausted her power in rendering 
beautiful; the Gothic architecture of the 



70| 



106 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

darker ages of superstition — that of the 
tawdry Chinese, and the classic temples 
of Greece; each has its specimen here — 
an appropriate arena for a contest of 
the arts. In 1761 Lord Anson brought 
the late Queen Charlotte (wife of George 
III.) to England ; this was his last act 
in the public service. 

26| Here is a very extensive prospect of 
this beautiful county, studded with the 
seats of nobility and gentry. The Vale 
of Shugborough detains the eye as it 
wanders across a country abounding 
with every variety of beauty ; the silver 
Trent and meandering Sow water this 
fertile valley, and the Acton hills, rising 
in calm majesty, at a distance of many 
miles, bound the view. Two hundred 
yards further on we enter an excavation 
of a mile and a half in length, averag- 
ing from 10 to 15 feet in depth ; over 
this are three handsome bridges. On 
emerging from thence upon what I shall 

25f call the Dunston embankment, as the 
township of Dunston lies a little to 
the left, we have an extensive pros- 
pect ; Cannock Chace being in the ex- 
treme distance, and in the intermediate 
space Teddesley Hall, the seat of Lord 
Atherton ; it is reputed to have as many 
windows as there are days in the year. 
Dunston is a township and chapelry 
in the parish of Penkridge^ county of 



71* 



2 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 107 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

Stafford. Pop. 272; An.As.Val. £1,624. 
The chapel, dedicated to St. Leonard, 
is a perpetual curacy within the juris- 
diction of the peculiar Court of Penk- 
ridge; the living is endowed with £1,200 
by the Crown, and is in the patronage 
of Lord Atherton. Our principal ob- 
ject in referring to this village is, how- 
ever, to mention, that in a field, close 
by the chapel, there is an extraordinary y 
echo, which returns seven or eight syl- 
lables distinctly. 

25 The Dunston Embankment is but 
three quarters of a mile in length; 
passing across this, and through an ex- 
cavation of one mile long (over which 
is a single bridge), we arrive at the 
Great Penkridge Embankment, which 
is upwards of a mile in length, and, for 
a considerable distance, from 30 to 40 
feet above the surrounding fields. From 
this elevation a varied prospect is ob- 

24 tained; opposite this post (73J), and 
just at the foot of Cannock Chase, Old 
Tiddesley Hall may be distinctly seen. 
Looking forward, the town of Penkridge 
has a picturesque appearance, lying far 
below the carriages ; the steeple of its 
church appearing at the distance scarce- 
ly to rise above them. Here, we arrive 
at the 



73£ 



108 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L 'pool & Manch'r. 

FCNERID61! STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester. .73§ lis. Od. 
From Birmingham 23J 3s. 6d. 

From this station Cannock is 5 miles 
to the eastward. (Line continued p. 109). 

PENKRIDGE is a market-town, parish, 
and township in the hundred of Cuttlestone, 
county of Stafford, situated on the river Penk ; 
pop. 2,991. It had a market, which is now 
discontinued ; its fairs are, April 30, for cattle, 
and first Monday in September, for saddle 
horses and colts, which is allowed to be one of 
the best in England. It has also a considerable 
trade in iron. The parish church, dedicated to 
St. Michael, is a large Gothic structure, with a 
square tower ; the living is a curacy, and a 
peculiar in the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry : 
C. V. £24; patron, E. J. Lyttleton, Esq. ; per- 
petual curate, Rev. Joseph Salt, whose residence 
is on the west side of the Railroad, from which 
access to the church is obtained by means of a 
small tunnel which passes under it. Here is a 
school in which 200 children are educated on 
the Madras system, the whole expense of which 
is defrayed by E. J. Lyttleton, Esq. ; there is 
also an endowed school for 12 boys and 8 girls. 

CANNOCK, a parish and township in the 
east division of the hundred of Cuttlestone ; 
pop. 3,116 ; An. As. Val. £4,167. The church, 
dedicated to St. Luke, is a Gothic structure ; 
the living is a curacy, and a peculiar of the 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



109 



Dean and Chapter of Lichfield, not in charge ; 
P. R. £100; patron, the Dean and Chapter of 
Lichfield. In the neighbourhood is the cele- 
brated Cannock Chace, formerly a forest, on 
which are herds of wild deer, and immense 
quantities of game, the property of the Marquis 
of Anolesea. 



From Birmingham. 



From L'pool & Manch'r. 



23f 



23J 



23 



About 50 yards past this station, is 
the 73§ mile-post; to the right hand is 
the Race-course (Races, see Index) ; a 
little further on, the Railway is borne 
across the river Penk, and a portion of 
the valley, by a viaduct of seven arches, 
each 30 feet span, and 37 feet high 
from the level of the river : there are 
three bridges in this embankment. To 
the left is Penkridge ; to the right is a 
house of considerable size, with an 
Italian roof; it is the residence of the 
Rev. J. Salt, incumbent of Penkridge 
Church. This has been much enlarged, 
and there is an on dit to the purport 
that it has been effected by the produce 
of a fine or recompence for the great 
injury inflicted on the Rev. Gentleman 
by the Railroad ; it having shut from 
his view the parish church, the scene 
of his labours. 

The embankment extends to within 
100 yards of the 74| mile-post. Here, 
to the left, is a red house, surrounded 



73* 



73| 



^h 



110 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

by a brick wall ; it is the residence of 
Mr. Hazeldine. 

The excavation we now enter is of 
considerable depth ; it is about three 
quarters of a mile in length, and is 
crossed by three bridges. To the right 
is a large tank to supply the engines 
with water, should occasion require : it 
is not a station. The reader will have 
observed the admirable apparatus with 
which the watering Stations are sup- 
plied ; the pumps which are not at 
stations, are to supply the engines on 
emergencies, such as the water failing at 
a station, or loss on the road. 

A little past this post, the turnpike 75 
road runs parallel with the Railway for 
three quarters of a mile : our readers 
will observe that a large earth-work 
conceals it from view, though an occa- 
sional glimpse of the top of a carriage 
or cart may be obtained : it ought not 
to be overlooked, that this has been 
erected by the Directors solely for the 
protection of the public, and to prevent 
accidents by horses being frightened by 
so close an approach of the railway 
images ; without any benefit to their 
works, and without any necessity for 
them to do so, as the Act of Parliament 
does not oblige them to erect such 
works. We mention this thus pointedly, 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. Ill 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

because it exhibits a degree of consi- 
deration for, and liberality towards the 
public, that we seldom meet with in 
public companies ; it being unfortunately 
notorious, that so far from treating the 
public or individuals with liberality, 
public bodies are too frequently guilty 
of meannesses which the persons who 
constitute them would, individually, 
despise. 

An embankment, half a mile in 
length, brings us to the Spread Eagle 
Excavation, which is from 10 to 15 feet 
deep, nearly two miles long, and is 
crossed by five bridges. Shortly after 
entering it, we arrive at the 

SPREAD SAGLE STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 76 . lis. 6d. 
From Birmingham 21 J . 3s. 0d. 



From here there is nothing to interest 
the reader, until we arrive at the 77 \ 
post, when we enter on the Standeford 
Embankment, the longest on the line ; 
it is, indeed, an extraordinary work. 
In many places it is from thirty to five 
and thirty feet above the level of the 
fields ; it is six miles in length, and car- 
ries the Railway over thirteen bridges, 
and under two : 






76 
77| 



112 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'.r, 

THE FOUR ASHES STATION 

is a quarter of a mile from its com- 
mencement. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 77§ . 1 Is. 6d. 
From Birmingham 19| . 3s. Od. 

This station takes its name from a 
small hostelrie, situated on the Liver- 
pool road, about three hundred yards 
from the Railway, and which has pro- 
bably administered to the comforts of 
our forefathers for a century or two, at 
the sign of the Four Ashes. From 
this station B re wood is two miles to the 
westward. 

BREWOOD, a small market town 
and parish, in the hundred of Cuttle- 
stone, county of Stafford, pleasantly 
situated on the banks of the river Penk. 
Pop. 3,799; An. As. Val. £16,428. 
The principal trade is in malt. It had 
formerly a market, which has been dis- 
continued. Fairs, September 19, for 
horses and cattle. The Church, dedi- 
cated to St. Mary, is a spacious and 
handsome edifice. The living is a dis- 
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Staf- 
ford and diocese of Lichfield and 
Coventry ; K. B. £6 7s. 8d. ; patron, 
the dean of Lichfield. Here is an 
excellent Free School. 
19§ Somerford Hall, the seat of the Ho- 7?2 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 113 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r . 

nourable E. Munkton, is to the right. 
The village of Standeford is a little 
further on. It is not mentioned in the 
population returns. Still more to the 
westward, about three miles distant, is 
Chillington Hall, the seat of T. W. 
Giffard, Esq., one of the few "fine old 
English gentlemen" that are to be met 
with in modern times. The hall is sur- 
rounded by magnificent grounds, in 
which is a large artificial lake. To 
Mr. Giffard, Wolverhampton is indebt- 
ed for the flourishing state of its races, 
and the consequent advantages to the 
town. To the left is Apsley Hall, 
now a farm house, occupied by Mr; 
Lovatt. From this high embankment 
an extensive view of the country is 
obtained. To the eastward the view 
is bounded, at several miles distant, by 
the high lands of Staffordshire; the 
intermediate country is like a vast gar- 
den, and presents the most happy 
combinations of wood and verdure. 
On the right, or westward, the prospect 
is equally striking, though more con- 
fined. The country is dotted with 
farm houses and villas, and the hills, 
rising in gentle undulations, complete 
a scene upon which the eye loves to 
19 dwell. Here is another beautiful view 7 
to the westward, which could not be j 
seen from the former site. 



m 



174 



17 



114 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

The London road is now on the 78^ 
right, and, for near four miles, runs 
parallel with the Railway. We here 
cross the Stafford and Worcestershire 
Canal, by means of a handsome cast 
iron bridge. The village of Slade 
Heath is close to the right. This long 
embankment is here interrupted by a 
short excavation of about three hundred 
yards. 

Opposite here, on the left, is a large 80 
house, embosomed in trees; it is 
Moseley Hall. 

Near to this post, on the right, is Mr. 80 1 
Chamberlain's mill ; the mill-head is 
supplied by a small stream that flows 
under the embankment. To the right 80f 
is the village of Ford-houses. To the 
left is a small red house; it is the 
parish school of the Hamlet of Bush- 
bury, which is in a valley about a mile 
more to the south-east: the church may 
be plainly seen. 

One hundred and fifty yards before 
we arrive at the 8 If post, is Low Hill, g\2. 
the seat of Mr. Pountnoy; it is a large 
white house, pleasantly situated on the 
acclivity of a considerable eminence, 
backed by a thick wood, and has a 
commanding view of the county to the 
westward. 

Opposite here, to the westward, is 
Oxley Hall, the birthplace of the late ! 



16 



15 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 115 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

Mr. Huskisson ; and, a little further on, 
to the left is a neat Villa, occupied by 
Mr. Minnocks, surgeon ; at the end of 
his grounds, towards the south, is a 
dilapidated building ; lest any anti- 
quarian should be tempted to form a 
speculation thereon, we had better in- 
form our readers, that it was formerly 
devoted to the very useful purpose of 
grinding corn, though now it is very 
nigh useless. 
14| From here the town of Wolver- 83 
hampton may be seen to great advan- 
tage ; it appears what it is, a place of 
bustle, and full of commercial spirit. 
A quarter of a mile further we arrive 
at the •»• 

WOLVERHAMPTON STATION. 

Miles. 1st Class. 2d Class. 

^taSTT?*,^}®* 19s - 0d - 13s - od - 

From Birmingham 14 2s. 6d. 3s. Od. 

From this station Wolverhampton 
is 1 mile, ShirTnall 14, and Bridgenorth 
14 to the westward. (Line continued 
p. 121.) 

WOLVERHAMPTON, a market town, 
borough, and parish, in the north division of the 
hundred of Seisdon, county of Stafford. Pop. 
of parish 48,080, town 24,732; An. As. Val. 
£32,967. Market, Wednesday : fair, July 10 
for cattle, and two following clays for all kinds 



116 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

of goods. In this town there are four churches — 
St. Mary's and St. Peter's, formerly collegiate, 
is a spacious cruciform structure, with a hand- 
some tower rising from the centre. The font in 
this church is of great antiquity, and is most 
elaborately carved with figures, basses, flowers, 
and foliage. In the chancel are many curious 
and ancient monuments. In the church-yard 
is a column, twenty feet high, (supposed to be 
of Danish origin,) on which is a profusion of 
rude sculpture. The living of St. Mary and 
St. Peter is a perpetual curacy (not in charge), 
in the archdeaconry of Stafford and diocese of 
Lichfield and Coventry; P. R. £130; patron, 
the dean of Windsor. St. John's is a handsome 
edifice, in the Grecian style of architecture, with 
the absurd addition of a tower and lofty spire ; 
the interior is pleasingly arranged, and the altar 
is ornamented by a painting of the Descent from 
the Cross, by Barney, a native of the town. 
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the same 
diocese, &c. &c. as St. Mary's and St. Peter's 
(not in charge); P. R. £69; patron, the Earl 
of Stamford and Warrington. St. George's is 
a handsome structure, completed in 1827, under 
the Acts of Parliament for building new churches: 
St. Paul's is a perpetual curacy, and was erected 
at the expense of the present incumbent, who, 
with Mr. Dalton, is joint patron of the living. 
Here are also places of worship for a variety of 
denominations of Dissenters, for the Society of 
Friends, and for Roman Catholics. 

Here is a free Grammar School, founded and 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 117 

endowed by Sir Steven Jenyns, Knt, a native 
of the town, and Mayor of London, Anno Do- 
mini 1508. It is liberally endowed to the amount 
of £1,200 ^ annum, and has from between 140 
to 160 boys on its foundation. Among the 
eminent men educated in this school, are the 
late Mr. Abernethy, the very eccentric but 
talented physician, who certainly will never add 
much to the reputation of the town for polite- 
ness; and Sir William Congreve, the eminent 
engineer, who invented that most destructive 
missile the Congreve Rocket. Here is also a 
Blue-coat School, for the education of 36 boys, 
and 30 girls. Wolverhampton was created a 
borough by the Reform Bill, and now sends two 
members to Parliament; the High Constable 
is the returning officer. This town has a very 
large and important trade, particularly in every 
branch of ironmongery, tools, brass, and japan- 
ned wares, all of which are here brought to the 
greatest perfection. It has the benefit of a large 
and very regular inland navigation by means of 
the Stafford and Worcester, and the Wyrley 
and Essington Canals, upon which fly-boats 
proceed daily to London, Liverpool, and the 
various places between them which lie on 
their course. The town contains a Theatre, 
Subscription Library, and Assembly and Con- 
cert Room, and a Dispensary. We must not 
entirely overlook the early history of this impor- 
tant town. In 996, a college was here founded 
by Wulfruna, sister of King Edgar, and widow 
of Aldhelem, Duke of Northampton ; previous 



118 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

to this the place had been called Hampton, but 
in honour of this act of liberality the name was 
changed to Wulfrunas-hampton ; it appears, 
however, more probable that at first this was 
only a local term, but gradually becoming 
general, it was, after a series of years, corrupted 
to the present cognomen, Wolverhampton. Nor 
must we entirely lose sight of the part it took in 
the Civil Wars: it early declared for the King, 
in 1645. It became the head-quarters of Prince 
Rupert, and was visited by King Charles in his 
retreat after the disastrous battle of Naseby, 
immediately after whioh it succumbed to the 
overwhelming power of Parliament. (Races, see 
Index.) 

SHIFFNAL, a market town and parish 
in the hundred of Brimshey, county of Salop, 
situated in a country abounding with coal and 
iron ore. Pop. 4,779 ; An. As. Val. £20,662. 
Market on Friday ; fairs, first Monday in April, 
August 5, for horned cattle, horses, sheep, and 
pigs; November 22, for the same. Its chief 
manufacture is of paper ; it, however, depends 
principally upon its situation and the custom of 
the gentry and farmers in its neighbourhood. 
The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an 
ancient edifice ; the living is a vicarage, in the 
archdeaconry of Salop and diocese of Lichfield 
and Coventry ; K. B. £15 6s. 8d., patron, Geo. 
Brook, Esq. Here is a free school, some be- 
quests for the benefit of the poor, and a savings 
bank; the Baptists, Independents, and Method- 
ists have chapels in the town. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 119 

BRIDGENORTH is a borough and mar- 
ket town, in the hundred of Slotterden and 
county of Salop. It is delightfully situated on 
both banks of the river Severn. Pop. 5,065, 
chiefly employed in the manufacture of cloth, 
stockings, carpet-making, and iron-melting, and 
steel tools; it has, however, a large business 
connected with the navigation of the Severn, to 
which it forms a sort of depot. Markets on 
Saturday; fairs, Thursday before Shrove-tide; 
May 1 ; June 30 ; August 2 ; and October 29, 
for horned cattle, horses, sheep, wool, linen, yarn, 
butter, and cheese. There are two churches in 
the town ; one, dedicated to St. Leonard, is a 
curacy, not in charge, and exempt from visita- 
tion; P. R. £83. The other, dedicated to St. 
Mary, is also a curacy, under the same circum- 
stances as the former; the livings are in the gift 
of Thomas Whimore, Esq., of Apley Park. 
The town has places of worship for various 
classes of Dissenters, a Free Grammar School 
for the sons of burgesses, and Almshouses for 
widows. The government of the town is vested 
in 2 Bailiffs, a Recorder, a Deputy Recorder, 
24 Aldermen, 48 Common Councilmen, 2 Bridge 
Masters, a Town-clerk, ^ Serjeants-at-mace, and 
various subordinate officers. It has sent mem- 
bers to Parliament since the time of Edward the 
First, and the Reform Bill confirmed the pri- 
vilege; the electors are about 700 in number, 
and return two representatives; the Bailiff is 
the returning officer. The situation of the town 
has been said to resemble that of Jerusalem in 



120 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

the olden time ; whether this exists in the ima- 
ginations of travellers, which is generally rather 
vivid, or whether a resemblance really exists, 
one thing is certain, that Jerusalem was not 
divided by a large navigable river, or it would 
not so long have withstood the assaults of the 
Romans. Bridgenorth is divided into the upper 
and lower town ; the higher town is built on a 
hill, which rises upwards of a hundred feet from 
the level of the Severn, and commands extensive 
and delightful prospects ; many of the houses 
are founded on the rock, and have their cellars 
excavated therein ; from this portion of the town 
to the bridge, there is a curious walk, hewn out 
of the rock, the descent by which is however 
rendered easy and safe by steps formed of 
pebbles, and secured by a frame-work of iron. 
Bridgenorth is said to owe its origin to Ethel- 
fleda, the heroic daughter of Alfred the Great. 
It was fortified in the time of Henry I., and 
became forfeited by its opposition to the Crown. 
In the time of the second Henry, it is memorable 
for an heroic act of self-devotion on the part of 
Sir Robert Sinclair, who intercepted an arrow 
aimed at the King, by interposing his own 
body. During the wars of the King and the 
Parliament (1646), it suffered severely; for, 
being taken by the forces of the latter, the 
Royalists, with that recklessness, wantonness, 
and cruelty which they so often exhibited, and 
so lamentably for the cause of the King, — set 
fire to the town, by which it was for the most 
part destroyed. The town had formerly a castle, 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



121 



in which the Royalists stood a siege for three 
weeks after the town was taken : nothing now 
remains of it but a portion of the tower. 



i Birmingham. 



From L'pool & Manch'r. 



The Allbrighton hounds did, and we 
believe do hunt this country ; but as the 
kennel is at Aqualate Hall (Sir Thomas 
Boughey's), Stafford is the best place to 
send a horse to, if you wish to meet them. 
Thus the railroad enables you, for a few 
shillings, to send your hunter fresh to the 
kennel, 60 or 70 miles off, in a few hours. 

Two hundred yards after leaving this 
station we pass into the great tunnel ; 
it is about 200 yards in length : the 
Wyrley and Essington Canal passes 
over it. Emerging from this cavernous 
looking passage, we enter the Wednes- 
fielcl Cutting. This is very near a mile 
in length, and in some places from 
15 to 20 feet deep ; it is crossed by 
one bridge. A short distance from the 
tunnel, a coal vein was cut through, 
and the coals have been used as ballast 
for the railway. A curious sight will 
it be for a person from London, when 
he is aware, that, within a ride of five 
hours, this ballast would procure, per- 
haps, 30 or 40s. a ton.* 

At the 84th mile post, the line is 



* I refer to the time when the London and Birmingham 
Line is open. 



122 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



13 



From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

level for about half a mile, and then 
commences a descent which carries us 
into Birmingham, the inclination vary- 
ing from 1 in 330 to 1 in 532. 

We now pass over an embankment 
three-quarters of a mile in length, 
crossed by one bridge, which is suc- 
ceeded by an excavation and an em- 
bankment of a quarter of a mile each. 
We then enter the great Willenhall 
cutting, which is, in many places, from 
28 to 30 feet deep. This ground is 
crossed by six bridges, and the Railway 
passes over two. We must not, however, 
too far anticipate our journey. About 
200 yards before we arrive at this 
post, is Mr. NevilPs works and resi- 
dence, and opposite them, to the right, 
is a machine for grinding heavy instru- 
ments, moved by steam power. Further, 
on the left, is Mr. Carpenter's manu- 
factory for patent locks, &c. &c. A little 
past the post, on the left, is the hamlet 
of Willenhall, and just past it, the 

WILLENHALL STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class- 
From Liverpool and Manchester 85| . 1 3s. Od. 
From Birmingham 11J . 2s. Od. 

From this station Bilston is one mile 
and a half to the westward. (Line con- 
tinued p. 124.) 

WILLENHALL, is a parish and chapelry 
in the south division of the hundred of Offlow. 



11^ 

1 *4 



85J 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 123 

Pop. 5,834 ; An. As. Val. £5,508. It is said this 
place derives its name from the Saxon Win- 
chala, a word signifying victory ; this being the 
spot on which Edward the Elder defeated the 
Danes in a great battle. This place has been 
celebrated for the manufacture of iron ever since 
the time of Elizabeth, and it is still so for the 
making of locks, files, currycombs, gridirons, 
and every description of hardware for expor- 
tation. It has the advantage of inland carriage, 
by means of the Wyrley and Essington canal, 
which passes near it. The Church is dedicated 
to St. Giles ; the living is a curacy, in the 
archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese of Lich- 
field and Coventry ; patron, the lord of the 
manor. The neighbourhood contains immense 
collieries and ironstone mines. 

BILSTON. A township and chapelry, in 
the parish of Wolverhampton, north division of 
the hundred of Seisdon, county of Stafford, 
one of the most extensive villages in England, 
situated a short distance from the north bank 
of the Birmingham Canal. Pop. 14,492; An. 
As. Val. £15,634. The town is situated on a 
rising ground, in the centre of a district abound- 
ing with rich mines of coal, firestone, clay ; 
with numerous steam-engines, forges, furnaces, 
&c, which give it the appearance of a vast forge 
by day, and a perfect pandemonium by night. 
With such a basis for its trade, the reader will 
not wonder at the population. Its extensive 
water carriage affords every facility of transport, 
which advantage the enterprising proprietors of 



124 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

the various works avail themselves of to the ut- 
most extent. The town is celebrated for the 
manufacture of all sorts of iron, tin, enamelled 
and japanned ware, steam-engines, machinery, 
and, indeed, every article of the iron trade. 
The Chapel is dedicated to St. Leonard ; the 
living is a perpetual curacy, within the juris- 
diction of the Dean of Wolverhampton. It is 
endowed with £400 from the Crown, and the 
same amount from private benefaction. The 
presentation is in the gift of the householders of 
the parish, both male and female having a right 
to vote. In 1829 a church was erected here, 
dedicated to St. Mary. Part of the expense 
was defrayed by the Parliamentary Commis- 
sioners. There are places of worship for several 
classes of Dissenters, and a Blue Coat School 
for six boys. Near here a fire has been burn- 
ing in the earth for upwards of fifty years; it 
arises from a stratum of coal, 30 feet deep, and 
4 thick, and it arose from the main strata having 
been cut from under it, which admits the air, 
and thus feeds the fire, which has defied every 
attempt which has been made to extinguish it. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

1 1 1 There is nothing worthy of note until ,86 
we have cleared this cutting. At the 
86th post to the right we then have a 
view of the coal-pits, for which this 
part of the country is celebrious. The 
steam engine may be seen. To the 
left is Bentley Hall, in which King 
Charles the First was for some time 



GRAND JUNCTIOxN LINE. 125 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r, 

concealed after the battle of Worcester. 
The red brick building, a little further 
on, is Bentley Farm, Mr. Foster. 

An embankment of half a mile, on 
which is one bridge, brings us to the 
Darlaston Cutting, which is crossed by 
an aqueduct, supported by two arches 
and two bridges. This cutting is three 
quarters of a mile long, and from 10 
to 15 feet deep. Darlaston Church is 
a conspicuous object, and may be here 
seen, on the right, to the south-west; 
and 150 yards further is 

JAMES'S BRIDGE STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 87^ . 13s. 6d. 

From Birmingham 10 . Is. 6d. 

From this station Darlaston is three- 
quarters of a mile to the westward. 

DARLASTON. A parish in the 
south division of the hundred of Off- 
low, pleasantly situated on the banks 
of the Trent. Pop. 6,647 ; An. As. 
Val. £4,213. The Church, which is 
a brick building, is dedicated to St. 
Lawrence; K. B. £3 lis. 5±d. The 
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry 
of Stafford, and diocese of Lichfield 
and Coventry. Patron, the Society for 
the Purchase of Advowsons. There are 
places of worship for various classes 
i of Dissenters, and a National School, 



126 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

supporter! by subscription, in which 
upwards of 150 boys and 80 girls are 
educated. The neighbourhood abounds 
with coal and iron ; the principal ma- 
nufacture of the town is gun-locks, 
nails, hinges, and a variety of hard- 
ware. Near the town are the ruins 
of a castle, built by Wolferus, King 
of Mercia, who sacrificed his sons for 

scorning disciples of the Christian 
bishop, St. Chad. The ruins bear evi- 
dence of a very strong fortification. 

This embankment is crossed by two 
bridges, and carries the Railroad over 
one; at the (87| post), the hamlet of 
Wednesbury may be seen to the south- 
west. At the post the road passes over 
the above-mentioned bridge, which is 
constructed of cast iron, and has two 
arches. At this post we enter a small 
cutting ; to the right is a house ; it is 
Bescott Hall, occupied by Mr. Mar- 
shall ; and at 170 yards past the 88th 
post is 



2nd Class. 
13s. 6d. 



BE SCOT BRIDGE STATION 1 . 

Miles. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 88 

From Birmingham 9J . Is. 6d. 

From this station Wednesbury is 1 , 

and Dudley 5 \ to the westward, and 

Walsall 1 mile to the eastward. (Line 

continued p. 133.) 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 127 

WEDNESBURY is a market town and 
parish, in the south division of the hundred of 
Offlow, county of Stafford, situated near the 
river Tame. This place was called Weadesbury 
by the Saxons, from its having been a forest, 
in which was a temple to their god Woden. 
In 916 it was strongly fortified by Ethelfleda, 
who, it is probable, also built the castle which 
formerly stood here. Pop. 1,437 ; An. As. Val. 
£,7614. Market on Friday; fairs, May 6, Aug. 
3, for cattle. The principal trade of the town 
consists in the manufacture of gun-locks, horse 
shoes, ironmongery, screws, nails, gas fittings, 
agricultural instruments, iron axletrees, stirrups, 
bits, &c. &c. In the vicinity of the town are 
collieries, yielding a superior species of coal, 
which is principally used for forges, for which 
it is admirably adapted, from the intense heat 
it supplies. Here also is found that peculiar 
ore called blond metal, used principally for the 
manufacture of axes, and other heavy instru- 
ments which require sharpness. The Birming- 
ham canal passes near, and gives it the advan- 
tage of an extensive water communication. The 
church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is an 
elegant structure, principally in the later style 
of English architecture ; it has a handsome 
tower, with a lofty spire, and, in the interior, 
has some very ancient monuments, and singular 
wooden seats. It is situated on a hill, and 
commands an extensive prospect. The living is 
a dis-vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Stafford, 
and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry. K. B. 



128 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

£4 3s. 4d., in the patronage of the Crown. 
Here are also chapels for Methodists and In- 
dependents, almshouses, and a Lancasterian 
school, supported by voluntary subscriptions. 
The brutal amusement of bull-baiting is here 
carried on, in defiance of all authority. The 
passion of the people of Wednesbury for their 
bulls appears only second to that of the ancient 
inhabitants of Congleton for their bears. 

DUDLEY, a market town, parish, and 
borough, in the lower division of the hundred 
of Halfshire, county of Worcester. Pop. 23,043 ; 
An. As. Val. £20,833. Market on Saturday, 
fairs, May 8, for cattle, cheese, wool ; August 5 
for lambs, and October 2 for horses, cattle, 
cheese, and wool. This place derives its name 
from Dudo, a Saxon prince, to whom it be- 
longed at the time of the Heptarchy. This 
prince built a castle here, in the year 700, 
which, during the war between Stephen and 
the Empress Matilda (1139), was garrisoned in 
her favour by Gervase Paganell. It was, how- 
ever, demolished in the reign of Henry the 
Second, and re-built in the reign of Henry the 
Third. In 1644 it stood a siege by the Parlia- 
mentary forces, against which it was success- 
fully defended by Colonel Beaumont. In the 
siege it was very much injured, but was never re- 
paired ; a fire occurred in 1750, which completed 
its demolition. The remains are interesting to 
the stranger; they are surrounded by woods, 
through which are excellent walks, affording a 
variety of views of these most picturesque ruins. 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 129 

Under the hill on which the castle stands are 
vast subterranean caverns, hewn in the solid 
limestone, this having been, for years, a most 
excellent quarry, of no slight pecuniary impor- 
tance to its noble owner. Strangers have access 
to these caverns; but we recommend them to 
employ a guide, or they may take an unex- 
pected cold bath, by finding themselves im- 
mersed in a canal, which, for the transit of the 
stone, has been led into these gloomy regions, 
and communicates with the Birmingham and 
Worcester Canal. In these quarries are several 
chalybeate springs, and the fossil called the 
" Dudley Locust," not now particularly valu- 
able, as it is found here in great numbers, and 
variety of size. It is supposed to be a petrifac- 
tion of an extinct species of monoculus. From 
the castle is an extensive prospect, in which the 
remains of a monastery, formerly occupied by 
Cluriiac monks, and erected in the year 1161, 
by the aforesaid Gervase Paganell, and the spire 
of St. Thomas's Church, form interesting objects. 
A handsome building, in the immediate neigh- 
bourhood of the monastic ruins, is called the 
Priory. It is the residence of the Earl of Dud- 
ley's mining agent. In this district are exten- 
sive collieries, and iron and limestone mines. 
The country around is very beautiful ; and a 
short distance, at Hales Owen, is " The Leas- 
owes," the elegant seat of the poet Shenstone. 
It is to be regretted that the public are not 
now admitted to view these delightful grounds, 
which bear so many recollections of the beautiful 



130 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

spirit of their former proprietor ; though we 
fear the cause is to be found in the accursed 
spirit which generally pervades Englishmen, 
inducing them to record their visits; injuring 
monuments, trees, and buildings, by inscribing 
their names thereon in ineffaceable characters. 
This barbarism no man will allow to be perpe- 
trated in his grounds, while he has the power 
of prevention ; thus the man of taste is ex- 
cluded by the rudeness of these Vandals, 
The manufacture of nails, chains, chain-cables, 
every description of hardware, and glass, form 
the staple trade of the town. Here are two 
Churches : the one dedicated to St. Thomas 
was rebuilt in 1819, in the later style of Eng- 
lish architecture, with a lofty spire, at an expense 
of £23,000. Of this sum, £7,600 was collected 
by subscription, including the munificent gift 
of the Earl of Dudley, viz., £2,000; the rest 
was raised by a rate. The living is a vicarage, 
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester; 
K. B. £7 18s. 6Jd; patron, the Earl of Dudley. 
The Church of St. Edmund is used as a chapel 
of ease to St. Thomas, the parishes having been 
united. There are chapels for various denomi- 
nations of Dissenters, and for the Society of 
Friends. This borough had the privilege of 
sending two members to Parliament, in the 
reign of Edward. The inhabitants, at a subse- 
quent time, it does not appear from what cause, 
petitioned for the abolition of the privilege, 
which petition was granted, and they remained 
unrepresented until the Reform Bill gave them 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 131 

the right of returning one member. The electors 
are householders of from £10 upwards ; of these 
there are about 800. The returning officer is 
appointed by the Sheriff of the county. 

Dudley possesses many charitable institu- 
tions, among which are three endowed charity 
schools ; one for clothing and educating 50 
boys, one for clothing and educating 40 girls, 
and the Blue Coat School, w 7 hich is, we believe, 
under the management of the Unitarians. Here 
is also a Free Grammar School, endowed to the 
amount of between £300 and £400 per annum. 
The celebrated James Baxter lived here for 
some time. Dudley confers the title of Earl on 
the family of Ward. 

WALSALL is a market town, parish, and 
borough, in the south division of the hundred 
of Offlow, county of Stafford. Pop. 15,066; 
An. As. Val. £6,692. Markets on Tuesday ; 
fairs, Feb. 24, Whit Tuesday, and Tuesday 
before Michaelmas Day, chiefly for horses, 
cattle, and cheese. The derivation of the name 
is evidently from the word Waleshall and 
Walshale, from its situation having been near a 
Druidical forest, in which the Saxons afterwards 
erected a temple to Woden. Queen Elizabeth 
visited the town of " Walshale" as did Henrietta 
Maria, Queen of Charles the First. The for- 
mer, however, visited as a patron ; the latter to 
await the event of the first battle between the 
people and their sovereign — the former on the 
13th of June, a harbinger of prosperity, antici- 
pating summer ; the other on the 23rd of October, 



132 GRAND JUNCTION LINE, 

a harbinger of devastation, and war, and civil 
disunion. The season of these visits might have 
been supposed an omen of their results. These 
are the only events of historical interest con- 
nected with the place. The principal trade of 
this town is the manufacture of saddles, iron- 
mongery, buckles, every description of hardware, 
plated ware, and a variety of small chain. 
Limestone is found in great abundance in its 
vicinity, and a considerable trade is carried on 
in malt. The old Birmingham, and the Wyrley 
and Essington Canals, confer on this town an 
abundant water conveyance to all parts of the 
country. The inhabitants of this town are ex- 
empted from toll all over England, and from 
serving on juries out of their own limits. There 
is a curious custom here, that of throwing apples 
and nuts from the Town Hall, on St. Clement's 
day, to be scrambled for by the populace. 

This borough returns one member to Parlia- 
ment. This privilege was conferred by the 
Reform Bill. The electors are householders, of 
£10 per annum and upwards. There are about 
800. The Mayor is the returning officer. 

The Corporation consists of a mayor, re- 
corder, 24 burgesses, town clerk, 2 sergeants- 
at-mace, and subordinate officers. There are 
two Churches in the town. That dedicated to 
St. Matthew was an ancient cruciform structure. 
In 1821 it was taken down, with the exception of 
the tower and chancel, and rebuilt at an expense 
of £20,000. It is now in the later style of 
English architecture. The living is a vicarage, 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 133 

in the archdeaconry of Stafford, and diocese of 
Lichfield and Coventry; K. B. £10 19s. 7d. ; 
patron, the Earl of Bradford. That of St. Paul's 
is in the Grecian style of architecture, and was 
erected by the Governors of the Free Grammar 
School, who obtained an Act of Parliament to 
allow them to devote a portion of their funds to 
this purpose ; patrons, the Governors of the 
Grammar School. There are chapels for various 
denominations of dissenters. Walsall has more 
than an ordinary share of charitable institutions, 
but our limits have been already so far tres- 
passed on, that we can only particularise a few. 
The free Grammar School, richly endowed, an 
English school, supported from the same funds, 
a Blue Coat School, several Sunday Schools, 
Almshouses, and very numerous benefactions. 

From Birmingham. ; From L'pool & Manch'r 

9 The buildings with a high chimney '88 J 
are Mr. Thel wall's iron-plate works, 
called, we believe, Wednesbury Forge. 
Walsall can be seen to the left, a little 
to the south-east. The embankment on 
which we are now travelling is one mile 
and a half in lengthy it is crossed byj 
two bridges, and carries the rails over 

8| one. At this post we enter the Tame 89J 
Hill Cutting, which is in some places 
upwards of twenty feet below the level 
of the fields : in this, one bridge crosses 
the line. 

7 1 One hundred and fifty yards fur- 90 
ther, on the right, is Chorley Mount, 

N 



134 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

the residence of Mr. Aldford. The 
river Tame runs for some distance pa- 
rallel with the line, and in its graceful 
evolutions twice passes under this em- 
bankment, which is one mile in length. 
In this river is a great abundance of 
fish ; they may be taken by fly or bottom 
fishing. The Railway is carried across 
the Tame by two bridges, each of Ifive 
arches, and it passes under one bridge 
and over another near the 90f post, and 
here is the 

NEWTON ROAD STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 90| . 14s. Od. 
From Birmingham 6§ . Is. Od. 

From this station Westbromwich is 
2 miles to the westward. 

WESTBROMWICH is a parish 
in the southern division of the hundred 
of Offlow, county of Stafford ; Pop. 
15,327; An. As. Val. £13,245. The 
inhabitants are principally employed in 
the manufacture of iron and hardware. 
The parish is crossed by the Birming- 
ham Canal and the river Tame, and it 
contains mines of coal and iron-stone, 
which employ a large proportion of its 
population. The church, dedicated to 
St. Clement, is endowed by the Crown 
with £200, and by a parliamentary 
grant with £2,800. The living is a 
perpetual curacy in the archdeaconry 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 135 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

of Stafford and Diocese of Lichfield 
and Coventry; C. V. £22 ; patron, the 
Earl of Dartmouth. 

Opposite here, to the south-west, is 91 
Sandwell Hall and Park, the beautiful 
seat of the Earl of Dartmouth. The 
mansion is an elegant erection, and is 
situated in a romantic valley, with a 
noble lawn, tastefully laid out in front, 
and backed by deep woods. 

We are now fast approaching the 
Newton Hill Cutting ; it is the deepest 
on the line, being upwards of 70 feet 
below the level of the fields, and half a 
mile in length. 

Here to the right is Hampstead Hall, 
the residence, we believe, of Wm.Wal- 
lis, Esq. The grounds are beautifully 
laid out, and present as great a variety 
of scenery as such a space could pro- 
duce : the woods are rich, and the 
grounds formed in easy undulations. 
A little further on is a white cottage — 
we believe, Claremont Villa. 

At this post the embankment over 92 1 
which we have been travelling for the 
last half-mile ends. We now pass 
two excavations and embankments, over 
which are two bridges, and under them 
one, of two arches ; these bring us to 
Perry Bar Station, but ere we arrive 
there we must notice that the grounds 
of Perry Hall, the seat of J. Gough, 



92 



92 



136 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

1| Esq., are to our left, near the 93rd post, 93 
that the white house to the right is the 
residence of Mr. Rawlins, of Birming- 
ham, — the red brick building a little 
further on is Lea Hall, occupied by 
Wm. Spencer, Esq., and that a little 
more to the westward is So ho, the ex- 
tensive manufactory of the late Messrs. 
Boulton and Watt, and the magnificent 
mansion and grounds of the late Mat- 
thew Boulton, Esq. We must now 
direct attention to 

PERRY BAR STATION. 

Miles. 2nd Class. 
From Liverpool and Manchester 94 . 14s. Od. 

From Birmingham 3J . Is. Od. 

From this station Handsworth is one 
mile to the westward. 

HANDSWORTH is a parish in 
the south division of the hundred of 
Offlow, county of Stafford, 2\ miles 
from Birmingham, and pleasantly situ- 
ated on the banks of the river Tame. 
Pop., with Soho, 4,944 ; An. As. Val. 
£16,874. The principal trade of the 
parish is in Birmingham wares, steam 
engines, and other iron-work. Here is 
the extensive manufactory of the late 
Messrs. Bolton and Watt, which is 
perhaps one of the handsomest build- 
ings of the kind in England. The 
church, dedicated to St. Mary the Vir- 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 137 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

gin, is an ancient Gothic structure, with 
a tower rising from the centre. It a 
I few years since received an addition of 
450 sittings, of which 250 are free ; 
the Parliamentary Commissioners con- 
tributed £500 to this enlargement. In 
the church are two elegant monuments 
to the memory of Mr. Bolton and Mr. 
Watt, whose fame rests not on sculp- 
tured monuments but in the usefulness 
of their lives, and in the benefits their 
intellectual ardour has conferred upon 
mankind. As long as science is dear, 
as long as the steam-engine exhibits its 
gigantic powers to an admiring world, 
so long will their names be in the mouths 
and minds of mankind. The living is 
a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Staf- 
ford and diocese of Lichfield and Co- 
ventry ; K. B. £13 9s. 2d.; patron, 
Wyrley Birch, Esq. 

We have lately crossed the river 
Tame — this river has some very supe- 
rior fishing stations, which (not to in- 
terrupt the progress of our narrative) 
we shall here mention. From the above 
place to Aston it may be fished with 
great advantage, and at the Aston Ta- 
vern is a most excellent pool. From 
Aston up to the mill, and in some pools 
above the mill, superior sport may 
usually be obtained. Opposite or about 
the 95 post is a small island, which is 



34 



138 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

From Birmingham. From L'pool and Manch'r. 

well known as a spot, on which if sport 
is not obtained, the fault will lie at the 
butt end of the rod — not in the river. 

An excavation of one quarter of a 
mile, over which are two bridges, brings 
us to the Great Aston Embankment, 
which is one mile and three quarters in 
length, in some places between thirty 
and ^ve and thirty feet from the fields 
below. It passes over two bridges and 
one viaduct of eight arches, under which 
flows the Birmingham and Fazeley 
Canal ; this work is one hundred yards 
in length, and between nine and ten 
wide. Proceeding a short distance on 
this embankment, we enter the county of 
Warwick, and shortly after cross the 
Tame. Near the 94f post, to the right, is 
a mill, the machinery of which is worked 
by the flow of the river Tame, to which 
this little erection gives a picturesque 
effect. After leaving the mill, the stream 
flows at the base of the embankment 
and parallel with it for nearly a quarter 
of a mile ; its serpentine evolutions 
through the meadows on the left may 
then be traced for a considerable dis- 
tance. 

Near the 95| post the village of Aston 
may be distinguished by the very hand- 
some tower and spire of its church, 
which is in the later style of English 
architecture. 



9i 
^2 



13 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 139 

From Birmingham . Fram L'pool & Manch'r. 

| Aston is a parish in the Birming- 
ham division of the hundred of Hem- 
lin^ford, county of Warwick. Pop. 
32,118; An. As. Val. 53,142, chiefly 
inhabited by artisans employed in or 
for the neighbouring manufactories. 
There is a church and two chapels in 
the parish; the former is dedicated to 
St. Peter and St. Paul ; the living is a 
vicarage in the archdeaconry of Coven- 
try and diocese of Lichfield and Coven- 
try; K. B. £21 4s. 9±d. The church 
contains some curious tombs and effigies. 
About 200 yards past this post, to the 95j 
right, is Aston Hall and Park, the seat 
of James Watt, Esq. This beautiful 
and stately fabric is best seen a little 
further on, by looking up along avenue 
of trees. It was erected at the commence- 
ment of the seventeenth century, by Sir 
Thomas Holt, one of the staunchest ad- 
herents of Charles the First, who was 
i here entertained for two nights, about 
jsix days previous to the battle of 
Edgehill, the first in which the troops 
i of the King and the Parliament met — 
disastrous to both, but to neither advan- 
tageous. Some time afterwards the 
Parliamentarian troops inflicted their 
vengeance upon Sir Thomas, by firing 
at and plundering his house ; the effects 
of several cannon-shot are visible in the 
interior of the building, 



140 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 



From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

About 150 yards from the viaduct, a 
fine view of Aston Hall may be obtained. 
H Just past here we arrive at the before- 95| 
mentioned viaduct ; from this the end 
of the Aston Embankment is quickly 
obtained. Birmingham is in sight, bear- 
ing evidence, by its appearance, of the 
prodigious works which it contains. 
Two excavations and an embankment, 
of a quarter of a mile each, in the pro- 
gress through which the Railway passes 
over two and under four bridges, bring 
us to the Company's Station at Vaux- 
hall, near the 96| post. Here the pas- 96| 
sengers alight for the present, and 
proceed to Birmingham in coaches, 
omnibuses, or cars, as may suit their 
inclination. The Railroad, however, 
proceeds past it, upon a high embank- 
ment, connected with the large Bir- 
mingham Viaduct, which carries it across 
the valley and the river Rea, by means 
of twenty-eight arches of thirty-one feet 
span, and twenty-eight feet above the 
level of Lawley-street ; the 97 mile- 
post is about the centre of this bridge; 97 
a quarter of a mile further will be 
the permanent station, at the bottom of 
Curson-street, where also is the station 
of the London and Birmingham Line. 
Having conducted our readers to this 
great manufacturing town, we shall just 
take a glance of the works upon the 



GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 141 

From Birmingham. From L'pool & Manch'r. 

' Line, to enable them more correctly to 
I estimate the greatness of the under- 
| taking. 



The reader who has accompanied us in our 
journey will, perhaps, scarcely be aware that he 
has passed one hundred excavations and em- 
bankments — yet such is the fact. In the forma- 
tion of these, Jive millions five hundred thousand 
cubic yards of earth and stone have been cut and 
removed, three millions of which have been em- 
ployed in the embankments ; the remainder has, 
for the most part, been laid out for spoil, as 
described at page 26. In the Line, there are 
about one hundred and nine thousand distinct 
rails, which rest on four hundred and thirty-six 
thousand chairs, which are supported by four 
hundred and thirty-six thousand blocks of stone. 
The Railway passes under one hundred bridges, 
two aqueducts, and through two tunnels ; it 
passes over fifty bridges and five viaducts, the 
latter are stupendous erections. In the forma- 
tion of the line upwards of forty-one million 
four hundred and forty thousand pounds of 
iron have been used for rails and chairs, and 
upwards of six hundred and fifty-six thousand 
nine hundred and forty cubic yards of stone for 



142 GRAND JUNCTION LINE. 

blocks to support them.* These few facts will 
suggest to the intelligent reader an idea of the 
magnitude of the work, and of the intelligence 
and activity necessary in the governing power 
which has superintended its formation. We 
should have been glad, if our space would have 
allowed, to have looked at the question in a na- 
tional point of view, as affecting the employ- 
ment of the population, but this our limits for- 
bid ; from a superficial view of the question, we 
are, however, inclined to think that this mode of 
transit will give more employment than the 
former, and that by rendering the employment 
of horses of a certain description comparatively 
unnecessary, will induce our agriculturists to 
grow that description of produce which is used 
for human food, and probably be the means of 
rendering the staff of life cheaper to the poor 
man — for these, independent of more obvious 
reasons, we think railroads deserve the support 
of the public, and the encouragement of the 
Legislature. 

* This is a rough estimate, we should think under, rather 
than over, the fact. We have calculated the whole line as 
being fixed on stone, and have therefore made no allowance 
for the sleepers, as when the ground is sufficiently firm 
these will be dispensed with. 



RACES. 143 



RACES. 



For the information of our sporting readers, 
we have added a List of Races (and, as near 
as we could obtain them, of the time of their 
coming off), to the vicinity of which access 
may be obtained by the Railroad. Some few 
of them are at a considerable distance from the 
Stations; but all, we believe, may be attained 
in a day. 

List of Races, and the time at which they are held, to 
which easy access may be obtained, by means of the 
Grand Junction and Liverpool and Manchester 
Railways. 

Bridgnorth July 26. — Two Days. 

Burton-on-Trent Aug. 23. — Two Days. 

Buxton June 13. — Two Days. 

Cheltenham July 2. — Two Days. 

Chester May 2. — Four Days. 

Coventry March 11. — Two Days. 

Dudley ** July 24.— Two Days. 

Eaton Park Sept. 26.— Three Days. 

Gloucester July 5. — Three Days. 

July 13.— Two Days. 

Hedgeford Oct. 27.— Two Days. 

Knutsford...Last Tuesday in July. — Two Days. 

Lichfield March 24.— Two Days. 

Sept. 12.— Two Days. 



144 RACES. 

Liverpool May 11. — Three Days. 

July 19. — Four Days. 

Manchester May 25. — Four Days. 

Newton , June 8. — Three Days. 

Newcastle Aug. 11. — Two Days. 

Penkridge Oct. 12. — Two Days, 

Potteries Aug. 8. — Two Days. 

Rugeley Oct. ft. — Two Days. 

Shrewsbury Sept. 19. — Three Days. 

Stafford Oct. 11.— Two Days. 

Stone Oct. 10.— Two Days. 

Stourbridge Oct. 29. — Two Days. 

Walsall Sept. 27.— Two Days. 

Warwick March 16. — One Day. 

Sept. 5. — Three Days. 

Wenlock Aug. 4. — One Day. 

Wolverhampton Aug. 14. — Three Days. 

Worcester Aug. 1. — Two Days. 

Wrexham Oct. 12.— Two Days. 



4+ 



THE 

LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



The town of Liverpool is situated on the eastern bank 
of the River Mersey, is in the county of Lancaster, 
and hundred of West Derby. It is 205 miles from 
London; 220 from Glasgow ; 80 by sea, and 105 by 
land, from Holyhead ; 120 from Dublin ; and 75 
from the Isle of Man. It contains about 200,000 
inhabitants. It is not our intention to enter into any 
of the etymological quibbles respecting its cognomen 
which, with its original orthography, appears involved 
in much obscurity. Suffice it to say, that the most 
popular conjecture respecting the former is, that the 
town was originally situated on a pool, or estuary of 
the Mersey, which pool was the resort of a water- 
fowl, designated " the Liver ;" from thence the word 
Liverpool appears a natural derivation : even this is, 
however, quite hypothetical, for we in vain search 
the chronicles of the naturalist for a history of this 
fowl, the existence of which, therefore, appears as 
problematical as that of the phoenix. However, as 
the corporate signet bears this device, we shall adopt 
the hypothesis. With respect to the orthography, 
Leland, in his Itinerary, spells it Lyrpole, and Lyr- 
poole. Dr. Enfield, in his " History of Liverpool," 
speaks of it as having been spelt Lerpoole, and 
o 



146 LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 

Leverpoole. In the Harleian MSS.it is also spelt Lever- 
poole. Camden, in his Britannica, spells it Lirpoole, 
and Litherpoole; and it has been spelt by others 
Lirrpol and Lyverpoole. The latter appears to have 
immediately preceded the present mode of spelling 
it, Liverpool. The ancient history affords but few 
particulars worthy of notice. It is not mentioned in 
Doomsday Book, unless, as some antiquarians assert, 
it is mentioned under the appellation of Esmedune, 
or Smedune ; our limits, however, forbid our giving 
the adverse arguments on this point. On the autho- 
rity of the Kenion MSS. it is stated, " that Roger de 
Poictou, Earl of Lancaster, built a castle at Liver- 
pool, and there placed as Governor and Castellan 
his trusty friend Vivian Molyneux ;" yet others, with 
more probability, attribute the foundation of the 
fortress to King John, who visited this place, and 
observed its local advantages, when he embarked 
hence on one of his expeditions to Ireland. It is 
probable that John granted the first charter that 
conferred any peculiar privileges ; for although two 
charters are mentioned in the corporation records, as 
having been granted by Henry L, it does not appear 
they were of any available benefit to the town. 
Henry III. confirmed the charter granted by John, 
and conferred additional privileges. The castle was 
governed by a constable, and that office was vested 
in the family of Molyneux from the reign of Henry 
V. to that of Elizabeth. It was dismantled in 1659, 
and in 1721 the ruins were removed to make way for 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 147 

the erection of St. George's Church. The feuds of 
the Stanleys and Molyneux are equally uninteresting; 
and nothing worthy of notice appears in the history 
of the town till, in 1644, it was garrisoned and 
fortified by the Parliament, and held out against 
Prince Rupert for twenty-four days, when it was 
treacherously surrendered, with its internal fortress, 
by the governor, Colonel More; but the royal cause 
being soon after utterly ruined, at the battle of 
Mars ton Moor, it was re-taken for the Parliament 
by Lieut. Gen. Meldrum, and held till the Restora- 
tion. From Dr. Enfield we leam that in addition to 
the charters mentioned above, Liverpool accumulated 
various charters and privileges, from the time of 
Henry I. George III., in 1 808, confirmed the whole, 
and constituted the mayor a justice of the peace for 
life, provided he should continue a member of the 
common council. 

The present Corporation consists of a Mayor, 
Recorder, sixteen Aldermen, forty-eight Councillors, 
two Bailiffs, a Town Clerk, and various subordinate 
officers. The Mayor is elected annually by the 
Council, on the 9th of November. 

Liverpool sends two members to Parliament ; the 
constituency is 17,427 in number, and consists of the 
old freemen and householders of £10 and upwards. 

The town is second only to London in commer- 
cial importance, wealth, and foreign trade. As it is 
therefore so essentially commercial, we shall com- 
mence our Guide to the town by recording the ne- 
cessary information respecting the Post Office. 



148 LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



LIVERPOOL POST-OFFICE. 

Delivery of Letters. — The First Delivery commences at 8 a.m., 
and the Office continues open till the arrival of the London Mail, 
(per Grand Junction Railway,) about 11 40 a.m. The letters comprised 
in this delivery are those of the over-night Birmingham Mail (with 
a bag from Manchester and a Foreign bag from London) ; the Holy- 
head and Carlisle Mails (with bags from Edinburgh and Glasgow); 
and the Dublin Packet. 

2nd Delivery — commences about 9, with the first Manchester 
Mail per Railway ; bringing also bags from Rochdale, Halifax, Brad- 
ford, Leeds, and York. 

3rd Delivery — commences about 10 45 a.m., and includes the 
letters by the 2nd Manchester Mail per Railway, with a bag from 
Newton. 

4th Delivery — commences about 12 30 a.m., (and continues until 
about 3 40 p.m.,) in which are included Bags from Birmingham, 
Walsall, Wolverhampton, Penkridge, Stafford, Newcastle, Nantwich, 
Middlewich, Northwich, Preston-Brook, Warrington, Eccleshall, 
Stone, Towcester, Northampton, London, Bristol, Exeter, Falmouth; 
and the Letters from Portugal, North and South America, and the 
West Indies, are also included in this Delivery. 

5th Delivery — commences about \ past 1 p.m., and includes 
letters brought by the Bristol Mail. 

6th Delivery — commences about 4 p.m., and includes letters 
brought by the 3rd Manchester Mail, per Railway. 

7th Delivery — commences about 4 50 p.m., and includes Bags 
from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Warrington, Prescot, and 
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Carlisle, Lancaster, Preston, Chorley, and 
Wigan. 

8th Delivery — commences at 10 minutes past 6 ; with the letters 
by the Lancaster Mail, from Ormskirk and Maghull. 

9th Delivery — commences at \ past 7 p.m. It includes the 
letters of the 4th Manchester Mail (per Railway), with bags from 
York and Leeds. 

10th Delivery — commences about 7 30 p.m., and includes Bags 
from Bristol, Northampton, Towcester, Birmingham, Walsall, Wol- 
verhampton, Penkridge, Stafford, Newcastle, Nantwich, Middlewich, 
Northwich, Preston-Brook, Warrington, and Prescot. 

The Delivery closes finally at 9 p.m. ; on Sundays at 8 p.m. 

There are Three Deliveries within the Town by Letter 
Carriers, every day (except Sunday) ; the first delivery to commence 
about 8 a.m. ; the second about J past 12; the third about 5 p.m. On 
Sundays, only the first, at 8 a.m. 

When any delay occurs in the arrival of the Mails, a corresponding 
delay will, of course, occur in the delivery. 

The Office is closed on Sundays from 9 a. m. until 1 30 p.m., and 
finally at 8 p.m. 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



149 



DESPATCH OF LETTERS. 

The following are the hours at which the letter-box is closed for 
making up the several mails, and at which each mail is despatched : 

Box closes at Despatched at 

First Grand Junction. 

'Bags made up for Warrington, Preston-Brook,") 

Northwich, Middlewich, Nantwich, Congle- l 

ton, Newcastle, Market-Drayton, Stafford, ! 

Penkridge,Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Bir- ! g*2o" A m 

mingham; and on Tuesdays and Fridays a ' 

Foreign Bag to London. The postage of 

Foreign Letters can be paid from 5 30 to 

6 a.m. and up to 9 o'clock the previous evening. _ 

First Manchester Mail, 
a qa . „r (Bags for Manchester, Bolton, Rochdale, Leeds,) . 
630A - M -iandYork . .}' 



H. M. 

6 a.m. 



8 A.M. 



8 30 a.m. 



Lancaster Mail. 
For Maghull, Ormskirk, and Southport 

Second Manchester Mail. 

A bag for Prescot, and (per Railway to Nevo-\ 

ton) bags for Newton, Wigan, Chorley, Pres- ( 

ton, Lancaster, Carlisle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, f 

and Manchester. J 



8 15 A.M. 



50 A.M. 



Second Grand Junction. 
n n ,„ (BagsforWaiTington, StaffordjWolverhampton,") ,, on 
11 ° A ' M - j and Birmingham . . .....j 1120 ^- 

Third Manchester Mail. 

("For Prescot, St. Helen's, Warrington, WiganA 

11 30 a.m. -j Bolton, Blackburn, Colne, Bury, and Man- 1 11 50 a.m. 

( Chester ) 

Penny Posts. 

{For Birkenhead, Upton, Seacombe, New^ 
Brighton, Crosby, Bootle, Walton, West Der- 1 12 45 p.m. 
by, Old Swan, Woolton, and Wavertree j 

Fourth Manchester Mail. 
jFor Newton, Prescot, Warrington, and Man-) 



1 30 r.M. 



1 45 p.m. 



(For Newton, Prescot, Warrington, and Man-) •, ~ n 

\ Chester . } l °° *- M - 

Third Grand Junction. 

"Bags for Prescot, Warrington, Preston-Brook," 
Northwich, Middlewich, Nantwich, Newcas- 
tle, Eccleshall, Stone, Stafford, Penkridge, 
Wolverhampton, Walsall, Birmingham, Tow- 
cester, Northampton, London, and Bristol; 
and Letters for Portugal, North and South 
America, and the West Indies. The Letters 
for London sent by this Despatch will be in- 
cluded in the first delivery there the following 

^ morning 



2 20 p.m. 






150 LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 

Carlisle Mail. 
(Tor Ormskirk, Preston, Chorley, Wigan, Bol-^ 

ton, Bury, Blackburn, H aslingden, Lancaster, >- 4 30 p.m. 
Westmoreland, Cumberland, and all Scotland) 
4 p m -l Fifth Manchester and the York Mails. 

' ] For Manchester, Rochdale, and the Counties) 4 59 P M 

I of York, Lincoln, and Durham (per Railway) \ 
Bristol Mail. 

[Tot Chester, South Wales, and Bristol ") 

Dublin Mail Packet. [-5 p.m. 

4 30 p.m. For Ireland J 

Bolton Mail. 

4 30 p.m. For Bolton 5 p.m. 

Holyhead Mail. 

5 30 p m l For Bir kenhead, New Ferry, Chester and \ q q p m 

\ North Wales, ) 

Fourth Grand Junction. 

(Bags for Manchester, Warrington, Stafford,^ 
fi ft J Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and London. ( fi 9n 

o u p.m. -j The Lelters f 0r London sent ty this Despatch f ° zv F,M> 

(, icill be delivered there about 11 a.m J 

India. — Letters to and from the East Indies are regularly forwarded 
by ships. The postage must be paid when posted. 

The rate outwards is two-pence per package under three ounces, and 
one shilling per ounce above that Weight. 

Letters conveyed outwards in sealed bags, are chargeable with 8d. 
single, if sent by ship from the port at which they are posted ; but if 
sent from any inland town, or to another port, Is., which must be 
paid when posted. 

Foreign Letters. — No Letters for Foreign Parts, except British 
America, the British West India Islands, and France, can be for- 
warded, unless postage be first paid; in default, they are sent to the 
General Post-Office, London, opened, and returned back to the 
writers. 

FOREIGN POST DAYS, AT 2 20 p.m. 

For Demerara, Jamaica, and the Leeward Islands, 1st and 15th 
day in every month; North America and the Bahamas, the first 
Wednesday in each month. 

For Carthagena, Mexico, Cuba, Honduras, and Havannah, 15th of 
every month. 

For Portugal, eveiy Friday. 

For South America, La Guara, Madeira, Gibraltar, and the Medi- 
terranean, the first day of eveiy month. 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



151 



TIME OF STARTING AT THE RAILROAD. 
For Grand Junction, see page 14. 

The Trains start for Manchester at the following 
hours, and leave Manchester for Liverpool at the 
same time : — 



4s. 6d. 



FIRST CLASS. 


MAIL. 


COACHES. 


SECOND CLASS. 


COACHES. 


7 o'clock . 


. 6s.6d. 


. 5s.6d. 


7|o 


clock . 


. 5s.6d. .. 


9 „ . 
11 „ . 


3> 




10 
12 

3 

5§ 

7 




„ 
„ 


2 „ • 

5 „ . 

7 n • 


J) 


J) 




„ 
„ 
„ 



(The lattei' Train stopping only at Newtox.) 

Except on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when the Evening 
Second Class Train, from Manchester, will start at Six 
o'clock, instead of Half-past Five o'clock. 

ON SUNDAYS. 

FIRST CLASS. SECOND CLASS. 

8 o'clock 7 o'clock. 

^ J, % „ 

Liverpool and Manchester to WIGAN. 

By the First Class Train, 7 o'clock in the Morning. 

By the Second Class Trains, 10, 12, 5§ o'clock. 

On Sundays. — By the Second Class Trains, 7, 5§ o'clock. 

Liverpool and Manchester to BOLTON. 

By the First Class Train, 9 o'clock in the Morning. 

By the Second Class Trains, 7J, 12, 5J o'clock. 

On Sundays. — By the Second Class Trains, 7, 5f o'clock. 

Liverpool and Manchester to ST. HELENS. 
By the Second Class Trains, 7J, 10, 12, 3, 5§ o'clock. 
On Sundays. — By the Second Class Trains, 7, 5§ o'clock. 
Liverpool and Manchester to RUNCORN GAP. 

By the Second Class Trains, 7J, 3 o'clock. 
On Sundays. — By the Second Class Trains, 7, 5§ o'clock. 



152 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



FOREIGN PACKETS. 

New York. — Agents : Wm. and James Brown and 
Co., Chapel-street ; Messrs. Crary, Fletcher, and Co., 
Brunswick-street ; Roskill, Ogden, and Co., Chapel- 
street. 

Philadelphia. — Agents : Wm. and James Brown 
and Co., Chapel-street; Messrs. Fitzhugh and C. 
Grimshaw, Goree. 

Boston. — Agents: Murray, Latham, and Co., Ex- 
change-buildings ; T. and I. D. Thornely and Co., 
Goree ; Humbertson and Co., George's Dock ; Baring 
Brothers, Goree. 

STEAM PACKETS. 



POST OFFICE PACKET 
Capt.Ckappell,India-bdgs! 

S. Perry, Clarence Dock, 
and 21, Water-street 

Matthie and Martin, 34, 
Water-street. 

Mc Iver and Co., 33, Wa- 
ter-street. 

Moore and M'Creight, 20, 
Water-street. 

G. Purdon, 21, "Water-street. 

Theakstone, Water-street. 



J. D. Thompson, 9, Goree. 
W. Splaine, 20, Water-street- 
Moore & Christian,23, Bed- 

cross-street 

Office, 23, Water -street. 
St. George Steam PacketCo. 

J. R. Pirn, 21, Water-street 
Ditto, Ditto. 
Samuel Perry, 27, Water-st, 

John Mc Cammon, 27, 

Water-street. 
Langtrys & Co., 30, W r ater- 

street. 
James Winder, 4, Strand- 
street. 



TIME OF SAILING. 

Daily, at Five o'clock 

Daily, according to the 

tide. 
Monday, Wednesday, 

and Saturday. 
Ditto, Ditto. 

Wednesday and Satur- 
day. 

Twice a Week. 
Ditto. 



Once a Week. 
Four times a Week. 
Daily. 

Daily in Summer. 
Once a Week in winter. 

and daily in summer 
Once a Week. 
Monday, Wednesday, 

and Friday. 
Wednesday. 

Monday and Friday. 

Four times a Week. 



PLACE. 

To Dublin. 

Ditto. 

Greenock & Glas- 
gow. 
Ditto, Ditto 

Londonderry. 

Newry. 

Carlisle and An- 
nan, calling off 
Whitehaven and 
Maryport. 

Carlisle. 

Drogheda. 

Isle of Man. 



and 



Rhyl. 
Beaumaris 
Bangor. 
Cork and Bristol. 
Belfast. 

Ditto. 

Ditto. 

Windermere, and 
the Lakes. 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 153 

TIME OF SAILING. PLACES. 

isher and Steward. Monday, Thursday, & Whitehaven. 

Saturday, in Sum- 
mer ; once a Week 
in Winter. 
Thomas M'Tear. Once a Week. Dundalk & Wex- 

St. George Steam Packet Tuesday, Thursday, Dundalk. [ford. 
Company ; J. E. Pirn, and Saturday. 
Water-street. 
E. Sproat, 20, Water-street. : Twice a Week in Sum- Dumfries. 
I mer ; once a Week in j 
| Winter. 

Besides the above, Steam Packets are going to the 
Cheshire shore every half hour. Many pleasant 
excursions may be taken up or down the river, at 
the moderate charge of from 3d. to 6d. each person. 
Coach Offices. — Angel Inn, Dale-street; Eagle, 
Water-street ; Morgan's, Fen wick-street ; Welling- 
ton, Dale-street ; Saracen's Head, Dale-street ; 
White Horse, Dale-street ; Golden Lion, Dale-st.; 
Feathers, James-street; Dodd's, James-st.; Boar's 
Head, Water-street. 

HACKNEY COACH FARES, 
Which, include a reasonable quantity of Luggage. 

s. d. 

Not exceeding 1,000 yards 1 

Exceeding 1,000 yards, and not exceeding 1,700 1 6 

And for each 7*00 yards, or any intermediate dis- 
tance 6 

Car Fares. — Two-thirds of the above Fares. 
N.B. — Carriages with two horses and two wheels, or one 
horse and two wheels, or one horse and four wheels, are 
considered cars. If a coach or car be detained above ten 
minutes, to be allowed 6d. for every ten minutes detained. 

s. d. 

Coach hired by the day 18 

Ditto by the hour, first hour 2 6 

Ditto, and for everv subsequent hour 1 6 

Car hired by the day 12 

Ditto, by the hour, first hour 1 6 

Ditto, for every subsequent hour 1 

Double fares to be paid after Twelve o'clock at 
night, except on public ball nights; then, at 
such public balls, One o'clock. 
The driver has the option to be paid either time or distance. 



154 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



HACKNEY COACH AND CAR STANDS. 

Castle-street; St. George's Church; Clayton-square; 
Great George's place; London-road; Scotland-place; the 
Baths at St. George's-dock. 

The following are the principal Hotels : — Adel- 
phi, Ranelagh-place ; Albion, Ranelagh-st; Angel, 
Dale-street ; Bull, Clayton-square ; Commercial, 
Dale-st.; Castle, Clayton-square ; Feathers, Clayton- 
square ; George, Dale-street ; Grecian, Dale-street ; 
King William IV., Williamson-square ; King's Arms, 
Castle-street; Neptune, Clayton-square; Royal Hotel, 
corner of Mooriields, Dale-street ; Saracen's Head, 
Dale-street; Saddle Inn, Dale-street ; Star and Gar- 
ter Tavern, Paradise-street ; Union, Clayton-square ; 
Waterloo, Ranelagh-street ; Wellington, Dale-street; 
York, Williamson-square. 



BANKERS. 



Liverpool Bankers. 

Moss and Co., Dale-street. 

A. Heywood, Sons and Co., Bruns- 
wick-street. 

Leyland and Co., 7, King-street. 

Central Bank of England, 12, 
Temple-street. 

Borough Bank, Water-street. 

Manchester and Liverpool District 
Banking Co., 43, Castle-street. 

I. Barned and Co., Lord-street. 

Liverpool CommercialBank,High- 
street. 

Bank of Liverpool, .Water-street 

Branch Bank of England, 55, Ha- 
nover-street. 

Phoenix Bank, Dale-street, 

Commercial Bank of England, 
Water-street. 

Liverpool United Trades Bank, 
South Castle-street. 

Albion Bank, North John-street 

Union Bank, Water-street. 

North and South Wales Bank. 

Royal Bank, Water-street. 



Correspondents in London. 
Barclay and Co. 
Denison and Co. 

Masterman and Co. 
Esdaile and Co. 

Glyn and Co. 

Smith, Payne, and Smith. 

Sir C. Price, Marryatt and Co., and 

Bult, Son and Co. 
Williams, Deacon, and Co. 

Glyn and Co. 
Bank of England. 

Grote, Prescott, and Co. 
Barnet, Hoare, and Co. 

Currie, Eaikes, and Co., 29, Com- 

hill. 
Grote, Prescott, and Co. 
Cunliffes and Co. 
Robarts and Co. 
Robarts and Co. 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 155 

THE THEATRE ROYAL 
is situated on the east side of Williamson-square. 
The building is of brick : the front of stone, with 
emblematical figures in bas-relief. The interior de- 
corations are new and beautiful ; the stage is spa- 
cious, and the voice is heard most intelligibly in the 
remotest part of the building. 

THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE 
is situated in Great Charlotte-street. Externally it 
is stuccoed, in imitation of stone. The interior is 
both ornamental and commodious. It is principally 
intended for equestrian performances, and panto- 
mimic exhibitions. 

THE LIVER THEATRE 
is situated at the top of Church-street. The interior 
is tastefully fitted up : it has an excellent stage, and 
the managers have deservedly received a large por- 
tion of public patronage. Open from December to 
May. 

THE QUEEN'S THEATRE, OR CIRCUS, 
is situated in Christian-street. It was originally 
designed for equestrian performances : it is, how- 
ever, of late, more frequently used as a Minor 
Theatre, for which purpose it is equally well adapted. 

THE SANS PAREIL 
is situated in Great Charlotte-street. Its chief re- 
commendation is the cheapness and variety of its 
, performances. Open from December to May. 



156 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



THE WELLINGTON ROOMS 
are situated at the upper part of Mount Pleasant, 
and the corner of Great Orford-street. This edifice 
has a handsome stone front ; it is an imitation of the 
Sybil's Temple at Rome. The subscription balls and 
concerts are held in these rooms. 

THE PISTOL GALLERY 
is situated in Tarlton-street, Williamson-square. 

THE PRINCE'S PARADE, 
which is on the west side of Prince's Dock, is 750 
yards long, by 11 wide, and for the most part pro- 
tected from the river by a low battlement. This is 
one of the most agreeable parades in the kingdom, 
particularly at high water, when the estuary is often 
covered with shipping, coming from, or going on 
voyages to, the most distant lands. 

PUBLIC BATHS. 

The New Baths are situated on the west side of St. 
George's Dock. They are admirably arranged, and 
will well repay a visit. 

Sadler's Baths, Hanover-street. 

Whitlawh Baths (Proprietor, Mr. Godfrey), Ren- 
shaw-street, is the only establishment at which can 
be obtained the much celebrated medicated vapour 
bath of Mr. Whitlaw. 

THE FLOATING BATH 

is, in the summer time, moored off the Prince's 
Parade. The most favourable time for bathing is as 
the tide comes in, when the salt water is coming from 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 157 

the sea. These baths are very clean and commo- 
dious, and there is plenty of room for swimming. 

THE CEMETERIES. 
St. James's Cemetery is situated at the top of Duke- 
street. This resting-place of the dead is well worthy 
of a visit : it will not fail to create impressions both 
melancholy and pleasing. A correct Print of the 
Cemetery and Monument to the memory of Mr. 
Huskisson is published by Mr. Lacey, 64, Bold-street. 

ST. JAMES'S WALK, OR THE MOUNT, 
is so closely allied, as almost to constitute a walk of 
the Cemetery. It commands a fine view of Liver- 
pool, the sea, the river, and the Cheshire coast. 

THE NECROPOLIS, OR LOW HILL CEMETERY, 
is also worthy of attention. It is situated at Low-hill. 

THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS 
are about half a mile further on. Admission tickets 
may be gratuitously obtained at most of the hotels. 
Each visitor, however, pays one shilling on ad- 
mission. 

THE BOTANIC GARDEN 
is in Edge Lane. Visitors are admitted by tickets, 
which may be obtained at all the hotels. 

CUSTOM HOUSE.— EXCISE.— DOCK OFFICE.— 

POST OFFICE. 

This noble building is situated at the bottom of 

South Castle Street; and, under the same roof, are 

the offices for the Customs, the Excise, the Dock 

Trust, and the Post Office. The latter is not yet 

P 



158 LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 

opened in this building. When finished, the fol- 
lowing will be the entrances to the various offices : — 

The Centre and Western Wing, — ") 
Doors West Front, North and [-Customs. 
South, and in the' Centre Piazza.) 

* In Eastern Wing. — Door in) ,-, 

the Centre Piazza. | Excise. 

In Eastern Wing. — Doors North") 
and North West side of Eastern I Dock Office. 
Wing. ) 

In Eastern Wing. — Doors East] 
Front, and Southern End of East [-Post Office. 
Wing. ) 

THE DOCKS. 

These must ever be considered as the peculiar 
feature of this town, the witnesses of its wealth, 
the consequence of its prosperity, and, at the same 
time, its source. They are stupendous memorials 
of the industry, enterprise, and perseverance of its 
merchants. 

The Clarence Dock was opened on the 16th of 
September, 1830 ; it is appropriated exclusively to 
steam packets, and is computed to contain 17,605 
square yards. 

The Waterloo Dock, The Victoria Dock, and The 
Trafalgar Dock, form a series of Docks communi- 
cating the one with the other, and add greatly to 
the convenience of the Port. 

The Prince's Dock is the principal resort of the 
American packet ships and transient vessels. It 
is 509 yards long, by 110 broad. 

* Until the Long Room is finished, the Excise use the 
Door in the Eastern Front. 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 159 

George's Dock. — This was commenced in 1767. 
It contains nearly 27,000 square yards, and was 
erected at an expense of £21 ,000. In this Dock is 
moored the Floating Church, for the convenience 
of seamen. 

Canning Dock communicates with Nos. 1,2, and 
3 Graving Docks, and is mostly frequented by ves- 
sels from the northern ports, and in the coasting 
trade. 

Salt-house Dock was constructed by virtue of an 
Act of 10 Geo. II. It is the receptacle of ships in 
the Levant and Irish trade, and derives its name 
from a salt work formerly contiguous thereto. It 
comprises an area of 23,050 yards. 

The Duke of Bridgewater's Dock is private pro- 
perty, and used by the boats called flats in the canal 
trade. 

The King's Dock, opened on the 3d of October, 
1788, was completed at an expense of £25,000. It 
is in the immediate vicinity of the King's ware- 
houses, and is principally appropriated to vessels 
laden with tobacco. The tobacco warehouses are 
worthy of inspection. 

The Queen's Dock was completed in 1796, cost 
£35,000, and is 470 yards long, by 227 broad. This 
Dock is also appropriated to timber ships from 
America and the Baltic. Between it and the river 
are Nos. 4 and 5 Graving Docks. 

The Brunswick Dock is appropriated particularly 
to vessels laden with timber. Its length on the 
east side is 460 yards, on the west, 435 ; the north 



160 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 



measures 110 yards, and the south 90 yards. To 
this are attached two Graving Docks and commo- 
dious Basins. 

THE MARKETS 
form another peculiar feature of Liverpool. 

St. John's Market is situated in Great Charlotte 
Street; it is 183 yards long, by 45 broad, comprising 
an area of 8,235 yards, and was erected at an ex- 
pense of near £40,000. 

New Fish Market is opposite the Eastern entrance 
of the above Market ; it is a commodious building, 
built for the purpose. 

St. James's Market is situated at the south end of 
Great George-street. It was erected by the Corpo- 
ration at an expense of £14,000, and covers an area 
of 3,000 yards. 

The North Market has two fronts, one in Scotland- 
road, and the other in Bevington-bush. It is 213 
feet long by 135 wide, and was erected by the Corpo- 
ration at an expense of £13,000. 

The Islington Market is partially covered in, and 
is situated on the top of Shaw's Brow. 

The Cattle Market is most admirably arranged. 
It is three miles from Liverpool, on the London- 
road. 

The Corn Market, or Corn Exchange, is situated in 
Brunswick-street. It is a handsome structure, was 
erected by subscription, at an expense of £10,000, 
and is 114 feet long, by 60 wide. 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 161 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

The Town Hall and Exchange of Liverpool are 
well worthy of a visit. The Town Hall is situated 
at the end of Castle-street; the New Exchange- 
buildings to the north, forming three sides of a 
square, the Hall itself being the fourth. The inte- 
rior of the Hall may be seen by the public, and the 
gallery which surrounds the exterior of the dome 
presents a complete panorama of Liverpool and the 
surrounding country ; the view is on the west bound- 
ed by the Welsh mountains. The Exchange-build- 
ings were finished in January, 1809, at a cost of near 
£U 1,000, which was raised by subscription in £100 
shares. These buildings, with the Town Hall, form 
a quadrangle of 35,066 square yards, being double 
the space occupied by the Exchange of London. In 
the centre of this area is a bronze monument, erected 
in 1813, to the memory of the immortal Nelson. It 
was modelled and cast by R. Westmacott, Esq., R.A., 
from designs by Matthew Charles Wyatt, Esq., and 
cost £9,000. 

The Statue of George the Third is situated at the 
bottom of Pembroke-place, in London-road. Here 
our late venerable sovereign is certainly a classical- 
looking personage ; and the chief merit of Mr. West- 
macott lies in the stretch of imagination which 
enabled him to convert the old brown wig and blue 
coat of George the Third into the waving locks and 
Roman toga of Marcus Aurelius. 

The Sessions House is situated to the west of the 



162 LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 

Exchange. It is a large quadrangular edifice of 
stone. In this the judicial business of the Assizes, 
for a portion of the county of Lancashire and the 
Borough, is transacted ; and in it also are held the 
Courts of Quarter Sessions of West Derby. 

The Telegraph is situated at the bottom of Chapel- 
street. Strangers may visit it by applying to Lieut. 
Watson, at the office. 

The House of Industry is situated on Brownlow 
hill. 

The Infirmary and Lunatic Asylum are handsome 
erections, and well adapted to their objects. 

PLACES OF WORSHIP. 
The Churches in this town are twenty-four in 
number. The following are the most worthy of 
attention: — St. Luke's, at the top of Bold-street; 
St. George's (the Corporation Church), at the top of 
Lord-street ; St. Nicholas's, at the bottom of Chapel- 
street ; St. Paul's, in St. Paul's-square (it is a minia- 
ture representation of the London Cathedral); St. 
Catherine's, in Abercromby-square ; and the Blind 
Asylum, in Duncan-street East; the latter is well 
worthy of a visit, the service being most admirably 
chaunted, as in our cathedrals. It may as well be 
here stated, that the clocks of St. Peter's Church, 
in Church-street, St. Nicholas's Church, in Chapel- 
street, and St. George's, in Lord-street, are illumi- 
nated. 

The Chapels of the Independents are Bethesda, 
Duncan-street, London-road ; Gloucester-street Cha- 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 163 

pel ; Great George-street Chapel ; Great Crosshall- 
street Chapel; Renshaw-street Chapel; Toxteth 
Park Chapel. 

Baptists. — This connexion have Chapels in Byrom- 
street, Comus-street, Cockspur-street, Great Cross- 
hall-street, Lime-street, and Russell-street. 

The Wesleyan Chapels are Benn's Garden Chapel ; 
Brunswick Chapel, Moss-st., London-road ; Leeds- 
street Chapel ; Mount Pleasant Chapel ; Pitt-street 
Chapel ; Wesley Chapel, Stanhope-street. 

Scotch Churches. — St. Andrew's Church, Rodney- 
street ; Oldham-street Church ; the Scotch Secession 
Churches are in Mount Pleasant and Russell-street ; 
and the Scotch Baptist Church is in Hunter-street. 

Roman Catholic Chapels are St. Mary's, Lumber- 
street ; St. Anthony's, Scotland-road ; St. Patrick's, 
Toxteth Park ; St. Peter's, Seel-street ; St. Nicholas's, 
Blake- street. 

The Friends' Meeting House is in Hunter-street ; 
the Jews' Synagogue, in Seel-street. 

Unitarian Chapels. — There are two ; one in Para- 
dise-street, and the other in Renshaw-street. 

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS 
are very numerous in this town, and may be said to 
reach every form of human suffering. We have only 
room for a list. 

Alms-houses, St. Mary's-lane. Charity (the Ladies'), for Relief of 

Blue Coat Hospital, School-lane. Women in Child-bed. 

Blind Asylum, London-road. Dispensaries ; one in Vauxhall- 

Bethel Union Ship, King's Dock. road, one in Upper Parliament- 

Charity Schools; there are many. street. 

Charity Institution House, Slater- Female School of Industry, Heath- 
street, field-street, 



164 LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 

Female Penitentiary ,Crabtree-lane. Ophthalmic Institutions; one in 
House of Recovery, Workhouse. Slater' s-court. 
Infirmary, Brownlow-street. Society for Bettering the Condi- 
Institution for Diseases of the Ear, tion of the Poor; Savings Bank, 

Duke-street. Bold-street. 

Infants' Schools, several of them. Society for Promoting Christian 

Lunatic Asylum, Ashton-street, Knowledge, Ranelagh-street. 

Brownlow-hill. Strangers' Friend Society. 

Marine Society Mariners' Church. School for the Deaf and Dumb, 

Marine Humane Society. Wood street. 

Mariners' Church Society, Ship in Theatrical Fund, Theatre Royal 

St. George's Dock. Office. 

Naval Bible Society, Mariners' Welsh Charitable Society, Russel- 

Church. place. 

LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS. 

The Royal Institution is situated in Colquitt- 
street. Its portico has been much admired. We 
need hardly add, that the objects of the Society are 
the diffusion and advancement of Literature and 
the Fine Arts. There are some good Paintings, a 
Museum, and a Statue Gallery, connected with the 
Institution. 

APOTHECARIES' HALL 
is situated in Colquitt-street ; it is one of the hand- 
somest buildings in the town. 

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, 

situated in Mount-street, is, perhaps, the handsomest 
and most commodious building of the kind in 
England. 

LIBRARIES AND NEWS-ROOMS. 

The Athenceum, established in 1779, is situated in 
Church-street. It is a library and news-room, and 
is supported by 500 subscribers of £2 2s. each. It 
has many valuable books. 

The Lyceum is a fine building, entrance at the 



LIVERPOOL GUIDE. 165 

lower end of Bold-street. It has an extensive library 
and reading-room. 

Law Library is situated in Clarendon-buildings. 

Union News-room, founded in 1811, is situated in 
Duke-street. 

The Public Library, for the use of Male and Fe- 
male Apprentices ; the former founded in 1822, the 
latter in 1824. 

The Philosophical and Literary Society, founded in 
1812. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

We give our readers a slight description of the 
character of each Paper, that they may choose for 
themselves. 

Monday . .Albion (The). Acute, pointed, and Whiggish. 

Advertiser (Myers's Mercantile). Devoted to Commercial 
Information. 
Tuesday. .Standard (The Liverpool). Talented, rather sophistical, 
and quite Tory. 
Times (The Liverpool). "Whig in principle. 
Mail. By the late Editor of the Standard. 
Wednesday, Courier (The Liverpool). It is Tory in principle. 

Telegraph. By the Editor of the Chronicle. 
Thursday. .Advertiser (Gore's General). Principally devoted to 
Commercial information. 
Mail. See Tuesday. 

Friday Mercury (The Liverpool). A strong partisan, and Whig 

in principle. 
Standard (The Liverpool). See Tuesday. 
Saturday. .Chronicle (The Liverpool). Sensible always, — occa- 
sionally brilliant. — Whig in politics. 
Journal (The Liverpool). Radical in politics. 
Mail. See Tuesday. 



THE 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 



Manchester is situated at the confluence of the 
rivers Irk and Irwell, in the County of Lancaster, 
the Hundred of Salford, and Diocese of Chester. 
It is 18 miles from Warrington, 186 from London, 
and about 33 from Liverpool. It is the principal 
seat of the Cotton Manufactories, and is fast adding 
the Silk to its already extensive trade; with its 
suburbs, including Salford, it contains 226,931 inha- 
bitants. The antiquity of Manchester is clearly 
proved, as (on the authority of Mr. Whitaker we 
state) there are accounts of its existence 500 years 
B. C. It was named by the Britons Mancenion ; by 
the Romans Mancuninum and Mancestre ; and on the 
departure of the Romans, Man-kastalh, signifying 
Man-Castle or City of Man ; and in the wars of the 
Saxons the inhabitants well earned the appellation, 
as they did not submit for 20 years after all other 
parts of Lancashire were subdued, and the Isles of 
Anglesey and Man, and the principality of North 
Wales, had succumbed to the invaders. Like its 
neighbour, Liverpool, Manchester was exposed to 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 167 

the assaults of the Civil Wars in 1462, the country 
about it having been laid waste by the Earl of Derby, 
who, however, after a spirited assault and several days' 
seige, was unable to take the town, and obliged to 
retire. Manchester has now two Members of Par- 
liament, and Salford (which may be considered as 
part of Manchester) one; the former sent a Member 
to Parliament (Charles Worsley, Esq.) in the time of 
Cromwell. We have but little of the early history of 
Manchester to record. In 1715, the " Young 
Chevalier," entered the town, and put up at what is 
now called the Palace Inn. Manchester was early 
distinguished for the prevalence of Jacobinical princi- 
ples, and if the " Majesty of the people" now predo- 
minates, we may assert that the same feeling is 
merely diverted into another channel. 

The principal markets of Manchester are held on 
Tuesday and Saturday (for Market-places , see 'page 
174) ; they are, however, pretty well supplied every 
day in the week. Its fairs are on Whit Monday, 
Oct. 1st and 17th, for horses, cattle, &c, &c. The 
municipal government of the town is vested in a 
Borough-reeve and two Constables. The chief 
duties of the Borough-reeve is, to preside over pub- 
lic meetings, to attend to the distribution of money 
arising from bequests, &c. The business of the 
police is attended to by the constables ; and there is 
a Stipendiary Magistrate appointed to administer 
criminal justice, who has a salary of £1,000 per 
annum. He sits every day but Sunday. We now 
i proceed to give a hasty sketch of the town, in which, 



168 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 



however, is included the various objects which will 
most interest the stranger. 

The Cotton Factories can be visited by obtain- 
ing an introduction to any of their proprietors. 



POST-OFFICE. 

The following are the intended Arrivals and Departures of the 
principal Mails at this Office, from the Qth July, 1837. 
ARRIVAL. DEPARTURE. 



London 11 45 A.M. 

11 45 P.M. 

with Foreign Letters 
first Morning Delivery, 



.1X1.. 

.M. ) 

s for the y 
ery. j 



Bristol 11 45 A.M. 

Birmingham 11 45 A.M. 

.... 4 15 P.M. 

.... 7 15 P.M. 

.... 11 P.M. 

Edinburgh ~\ 

Glasgow I 11 45 A.M. 

Carlisle r .... 3 40 P.M. 
Preston ) 

Liverpool 8 40 A.M. 

10 40 A.M. 

2 10 P.M. 

3 40 P.M. 

6 40 P.M. 

Ireland 8 40 A.M. 

or 

„ 10 40 A.M., 

according to the arrival of Packets. 

Leeds} 6 A.M. 

York) 3 30 P.M. 

Derby ~) 

NottinghamV 3 45P.M. 

Leicester ) 

By Buxton. 

Ditto ) 45 3 P M 
By Birmingham) 



2 15 P.M. —Principal Lon- 
don Mail. 

6 15 P.M.— for a second De- 
livery in London. 

6 15 A.M.— for Foreign Let- 
ters on Tuesdays 
and Fridays. 

2 15 P.M. 



15 A.M 
15 A.M. 
15 P.M. 
15 P.M. 

15 A.M. 
15. P.M. 

15 A.M. 
15 A.M. 
15 P.M. 
15 P.M. 



2 15 P.M. 



9 A.M. 
8 P.M. 



9 A.M. 



6 15 P.M. 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 169 



GENERAL DELIVERIES AT THE OFFICE. 

The first, at eight until half-past eight in the morning, includes Let- 
ters from Liverpool, Newcastle, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birming- 
ham, Middleton, and Bolton, the greatest part of Yorkshire, Lincoln- 
shire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, 
Sunderland, and Durham. 

The second, at nine until a quarter before two in the afternoon, includes 
Letters from Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn, Burnley, Bury, Colne, 
Hyde, Denton, Geecross, Gorton, Oldham, Stockport, Chester, all 
Saddleworth, Ashton-under-Line, Audenshaw, and Staleybridge, the 
counties of Salop and Hereford, Leominster, part of North Wales, 
Frodsham, Warrington, Dublin, and all Ireland. 

The third, at half-past twelve at noon, until a quarter before two in 
the afternoon, includes Letters from London, Essex, Kent, and Sus- 
sex, Bristol, Falmouth, part of North Wales, the counties of Corn- 
wall, Devon, Somerset, Oxford, Warwick, and all the West of 
England; also from Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Stone, Shiff- 
nall, Newcastle-under-Lyne, Lawton, Congleton, Disbury, Cheadle 
and Winslow. 

The fourth, at half-past four in the afternoon until nine at night, 
includes Letters from Derby, Ashbourn, Leek, Macclesfield, and 
Stockport, the counties of Bedford, Berks, Herts, Hants, Leicester, 
Northampton, and Suffolk; also includes Letters from York, Leeds, 
Tadcaster, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax, Rochdale ; parts of the 
counties of Suffolk, Herts, and Cambridge; also all Scotland, 
Lancaster, Preston, Chorley; and from Disley, Buxton, Bakewell, 
Matlock, Belper, Sheffield; also Liverpool ($> Eailway). 

The fifth, at half-past seven until nine at night, includes Letters 
from Liverpool (^ Bailway), Biraiingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford, 
Chester, Warrington, Northwich, County of Chester, Staffordshire. 

There are three deliveries by the Carriers, namely, at half-past eight 
in the morning, twenty minutes to one in the afternoon, and five 
o*clock, town deliveries, except on Sundays, when there is only a 
morning delivery. The deliveries of course must be delayed, if 
there be any irregularity in the arrival of the mails. The* letter- 
carriers are in attendance at the Office from half-past seven to eight 
in the morning, and four in the afternoon ; but no letters can be 
delivered by them at the Office, except to persons who have not 
been found when they have been on their rounds. 
The Office continues open for strangers from eight in the morning 
until ten at night; — on Sundays the Office is closed from half-past 
ten till half-past twelve, and from three till five. 

RAIL ROAD. 
For time of the Trains starting, &c. see page 14. 

HOTELS, COACHES, AND COACH-OFFICES. 

Buck and Hawthorn, St. Anne-street; Buck, 
Hanging-ditch fBush Inn, Deanes-gate ; Eagle Inn, 



170 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 



Market-street ; Golden Lion, Deans-gate ; Hare and 
Hounds, Shude-hill; Lower Turk's Head, Shude- 
hill; Mosley Arms, Piccadilly; Ditto, Shude-hill; 
New Boar's Head, Hyde's-cross ; Old Boar's Head, 
Hyde-cross; Palace Inn, Market-street; Peacock, 
Market-street ; Royal Hotel, corner of Mosley-street 
(the Mails go from here) ; Swan Inn, Market-street ; 
Swan, Whitley-grove ; Talbot, Market-street ; White 
Swan, Shude-hill ; Commercial, Market-street. 



HACKNEY COACH AND CAR FARES. 

These Fares are to be taken either for Time or 
Distance, at the discretion of the Driver. 

The following Fares include a reasonable quan- 
tity of Luggage. 

Any distance not exceeding 1172 yards 

Any distance exceeding two-thirds of a mile, and 
not exceeding one mile or 1760 yards 

And for every succeeding third of a mile, or 586 
yards 

If for time, then for any time not exceeding a quar- 
ter of an hour 

For every succeeding quarter of an hour 

For every stoppage to take up more than once, and 
to set down more than twice, an additional .... 

For eveiy quarter of an hour waiting, after being 
called 



Carriages 
drawn by 
2 Horses. 


S. 
1 


d. 



1 


6 





6 


1 




6 





6 





6 



Carriages 
drawn by 
1 Horse. 


S. 

1 


d. 



1 








4 


1 




4 





4 





4 



BANKERS, 

WITH THEIR CORRESPONDENTS IN LONDON. 



Manchester Bankers. 
Bank of England Branch Bank. 
Savings' Bank, Mr. Jn. Atkinson, 

Agent, 1, Cross street. 
Cunliffes, Brooks, & Co. Market-st. 
Daintry, Eyle, & Co., Norfolk-st. 
B. Heywood & Co., St. Anne's-st. 
W. Jones, Lloyds, & Co., King-st. 
Scholes, Tetlow, & Co. Cannon-st. 
Bank of Manchester, Market-st. 
Manchester and Liverpool District 

Bank, Spring Gardens. 



Correspondents in London. 
Bank of England. 



R. Cunliffe, jun. & Co. 
Whitmore, "Wells, & Co. 
Masterman & Co. 
Jones, Lloyd, & Co. 
Curries & Co. 
Denison & Co. 
Smith, Payie, & Co. 



Northern and Central Bank, 
Crown-street. 

Union Bank, Crown-street. 

Commercial Bank of England, 
Mosley-street. 

Manchester and Salford Bank, 
King-street. 

South Lancashire Bank, Crown- 
street. 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 171 

Westminster Bank. 



Glyn & Co. 
Masterman & Co. 

Williams, Deacon, & Co. 

Barclay and Co. 



THE TOWN HALL 

is a noble erection, of the Ionic order, surmounted 
with a handsome dome. It is well worthy of a visit. 

THE NEW EXCHANGE. 

This very handsome erection has two grand en- 
trances; one in Market-street, the other in Exchange- 
street. The building is of the Doric order. The 
columns are fluted, and are 27 feet high. The Post- 
office forms a part of this pile. The Exchange Room 
is elegant and spacious; it comprises an area of 
4000 feet. 

CHURCHES. 

There are in Manchester 23 Churches, and 3 
Chapels, connected with the Establishment; the 
principal one being the Old, or Collegiate Church. 
This is a noble specimen of decorated Gothic archi- 
tecture ; both internally and externally it is well 
worthy of notice. 

The Independents have 7 Chapels ; the Irvingites 
1 ; the Catholics 4 ; the Baptists 3 ; the Methodists 
24 ; the New Jerusalem Sect 2 ; the Presbyterians 1 ; 
the Scotch Church 1 ; Unitarians 4 ; Welsh Baptists, 
Calvinists, Independents, Methodists, 7. 



172 MANCHESTER GUIDE. 

THE CEMETERY 
is situated in Rusholme-road. It covers an area of 
four acres; but it is not to be compared with the 
establishments of Liverpool. 

THE CHETHAM LIBRARY 
is under the same roof as Chetham's Hospital, or 
Blue Coat School. It is rich in old and curious 
books, in works of Ecclesiastical History, Theology, 
and Antiquities. It has also some MSS. Strangers 
are gratuitously admitted, and may have access to 
the books, from half-past eight o'clock till twelve in 
the morning, and from one to five in the afternoon. 

THE PORTICO 
contains a Library and News-room. It is situated 
in Mosley-street. One Subscriber can admit a stran- 
ger to read the papers, magazines, &c. for three 
days — two Subscribers can extend the privilege for 
a month. 

MANCHESTER SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY 
is in Exchange-buildings, Ducie-place. It contains 
about 20,000 volumes, and has 400 subscribers. 

THE SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY, 
in Exchange-buildings; Librarian, Mr. W. Bam- 
ford. This Library has about 350 subscribers. 

THE SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY 

FOR PROMOTING GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 

is in NewalTs Buildings, Market -street. Contains 
about 6000 volumes, and has 350 subscribers. 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 173 

THE ROYAL MANCHESTER INSTITUTION, 

for the encouragement of Arts and Sciences, is situ- 
ated in Mosley-street. It is a splendid erection, and 
in it is held an exhibition of Paintings. Manchester 
has also an Agricultural and a Horticultural Society, 
and a Natural History Society. 

THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION 
is a noble building, situated in Cooper-street. Re- 
gular courses of Lectures are delivered, syllabuses 
of which may be there gratuitously obtained. 

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 

Manchester Royal Infirmary, Dispensaries, and Lunatic 
Asylum; Piccadilly, Salford, and Pendleton Dispen- 
sary, 19, Bank Parade. 

House of Recovery, — Aytown-street. 

Lying-in Hospital^ — Stanley- street, Salford. 

Sick Hospital, — 16, Bond-street. 

Female Penitentiary, — Rusholm-road. 

Institution for curing Diseases in the Eye, — 35, Faulkner- 
street. 

The Humane Society's Receiving Houses are four in 
number, viz. — Lying-in Hospital, Stanley-street; the 
Ardwick and Ancoats Dispensary ; the Lying-in Hos- 
pital, Salford; and the Salford and Pendleton Dispen- 
sary. 

The Chorlton and Medlock Dispensary. 

The Workhouse, — Strangewavs. 

The Vagrant Office,— Do. 

The Salford Workhouse, — Green-gate. 

The Pendleton Workhouse, — Ford-lane. 

Manchester and Salford District Provident Society,— 
Office, 11, St. James's-square. 
Besides the above, there are various sums bequeathed for 
purposes of charity, amounting to the annual income of 
upwards of £5,000. 

THE REPOSITORY 

is situated in St. Anne's-square. It is an excellent 



174 MANCHESTER GUIDE. 

institution, and well deserves a visit from the stran- 
ger. 

THE ALBION BAZAAR. 
The principal entrances to the Bazaar are in 
Deans-gate and Police-street. 

THE THEATRES. 

The Royal Theatre is situated in Fountain-street. 
It is rented by the proprietor of the Liverpool Thea- 
tre Royal, and is visited by his Company from 
Christmas to Easter, and occasionally during the 
other months of the year. 

The Queen's Theatre is in York-street. Its per- 
formances are confined to pantomimes, melo dramas, 
&c. &c, similar to the regulations of other minor 
theatres. 

The Assembly Rooms are situated in Mosley-street. 
They were erected at an expense of £7000, and con- 
sist of a Ball Room, Tea Room, Card and Billiard 
Rooms. The Club House is in Mosley-street, next 
to the Royal Institution. 

The Concert Hall is situated in Lower Mosley- 
street; it was opened in 1831, and its interior is 
both capacious and elegant. 

The Albion Club House is just established, and is 
situated in King-street. The Billiard Room is in 
Mosley-street. 

BATHS. 

There are Public Baths situated at the entrance of 
the Infirmary Walks. The profits of these Baths are 
appropriated to the use of the Dispensary. 



MANCHESTER GUIDE. 175 

The Adelphi Swimming Baths, Reservoir Terrace, 
Salford, are of a very superior description. 

The Medicated Vapour Baths are at No. 1, Lloyd- 
street. 

Whitlow's Medicated Vapour Baths, at 35, George- 
street. 

The Dolphin Cold Baths, Horrocks, Red Bank. 

THE BOTANIC GARDENS 

are situated on the road to Altringham, about two 
miles from the Exchange. 

THE MARKETS 
of Manchester are not so remarkable as those of 
Liverpool. The principal ones are, the New Market, 
in Brown-street; the Fish Market, in Market- 
place ; and the Town-Hall and Market, in Sal- 
ford, all of which are exceedingly well supplied. 

THE NEW BAILEY PRISON 
is situated in Stanley-street, Salford. It is an ex- 
tensive building, arranged in the form of a cross. 

We have not room further to notice the NEWS- 
PAPERS, than just to say, that they are six in 
number ; five published on Saturday. 

The Manchester Courier. .High Tory. 

The Chronicle Moderate Tory. 

The Guardian Ministerial. 

The Advertiser Cobbettite. 

The Times ... Moderate Radical 



THE 

BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 




Birmingham is a market town, and a borough by 
the Reform Bill, in the Hundred of Hemlingford, 
situated upon a hill near the river Rea, in the county 
of Warwick, 109 miles from London, 97 \ from Li- 
verpool. Population in 1821, 106,722— in 1831, 
146,986. It is probable, therefore, that at this time 
the population is now from 180 to 200,000. Its 
markets are on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday ; 
for hay on Tuesday ; the latter is held in Smithfield, 
the former in the Market Hall. Fairs, Thursday in 
Whitsun week, Sept. 23. 

A contemporary has congratulated the inhabitants 
of Birmingham upon the fact that " the ground upon 
which it stands is antient as the scite of any Eternal 
City." Presuming, therefore, that a native of the 
town must be better aware of the predilection of the 
inhabitants than a stranger, we venture to bespeak 
their favour by following the same line of antiquities, 
and in doing so assure them its ground is as antient 
as the scite of " the Garden of Eden;" but that we are 
happy in being able to assign a little more modern 
period for the commencement of its operations in 
the manufactures, with which it is now able to com- 
pete with the world. We shall proceed to give a 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 177 

slight sketch of the ancient history of the town, and 
to direct the stranger to such objects of pleasure, 
curiosity, and convenience, as will render his sojourn 
either profitable or pleasurable, according to the 
pursuit with which he may be occupied. 

First, then, as to the name. Hutton has given us 
a very feasible account of its origin, which I shall 
adopt as I have seen no better, and as it is not of 
vast importance. 

The original name he states was Brom which from 
Brom or Broom, a shrub, for the growth of which it 
appears its soil is specially favourable, and ivich a 
descent — those words combined would then give us 
Bromwich, or the Broom-hill in more modern phra- 
seology, which appears quite natural, as the original 
town was situated on an acclivity : the addition of 
ham he has also as ingeniously indeed as naturally 
accounted for. This word, it appears, is Saxon, and 
signifies a home; this, after the town had sprung into 
comparative importance, the lord of the soil might, 
and properly did assume its name, and it thus be- 
came Bromycham, or the Broom-hill home. Re- 
specting the antiquity of the town, Mr. Hutton has, 
by his industrious examination of the neighbour- 
hood, given us very good data, from which to prove 
the probability of its having been the armoury of our 
forefathers, previous to the invasion of the Romans. 
These people found us in a comparative state of bar- 
barism, but still with evidence of the existence of a 
knowledge of manufactures. The mailed legions of 
Rome were, it is true, met by the naked Britons, but 



178 BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 

still were they mounted in chariots, with scythes at- 
tached to their axle-trees ; — having this proof of their 
knowledge of smiths' work, we look for evidence of the 
place in which the iron was obtained and manufac- 
tured. This town was situated on one of the Roman 
roads (Icknield- street), and was a Roman station ; 
this proves it was a place of importance. An exa- 
mination of the neighbourhood has discovered many 
hundred coal pits which have been abandoned for 
ages ; and the mountains of the refuse of melted ore 
prove that this manufacture is of equally antient 
origin — the roads, also, bearing evidence of contem- 
porary formation, may be traced, worn as they are 
to the depth of thirty, and even forty feet. Those 
are now filled, up, but the industrious antiquarian 
has left us irrefragable evidence of their having ex- 
isted. 

To the next era, in which the town is specially pro- 
minent in history, we now turn. The inhabitants 
were strong republicans ; and when the war between 
the Parliament and Charles I. commenced, they took 
a very decided part against the king — arresting all 
messengers and persons supposed to be in his favor, 
and occasionally attacking small parties, whom they 
seized and sent prisoners to Coventry. In 1643, 
Prince Rupert attacked the town with 1,500 men; 
the inhabitants, assisted by 150 musketeers and a 
few horse, stoutly, though unsuccessfully, opposed 
him, for which he pillaged and set fire to the town, 
and the inhabitants were glad to pay a heavy fine to 
put a stop to the excesses of his soldiers. This town 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 179 

exhibited a curious change in opinions when, on the 
14th of July, 1791, a party having met at an hotel, 
to commemmorate the anniversary of the French 
Revolution, a mob there collected, and having broke 
the windows of the house, proceeded to the most 
atrocious acts of violence — they destroyed the Uni- 
tarian chapel, Doctor Priestley's dwelling-house, 
philosophical apparatus, and valuable manuscripts — 
an irreparable loss to science, as well as to the ami- 
able individual to whom they belonged. Similar 
outrages continued for several days, until they were 
put a stop to by the arrival of the military from 
Oxford and Hounslow. A great number of the 
rioters were taken, and two suffered the extreme 
penalty of the law. Barracks are now erected, with 
every convenience for the military, which will pre- 
vent the possibility of a similar disgraceful occur- 
rence. Upwards of £60,000 worth of property was 
destroyed. 

Birmingham was created a borough by the Reform 
Bill, and now sends two members to parliament. 
The constituency is about 6,532, and is composed of 
1 householders of £10 and upwards. The Borough 
comprises the parishes of Birmingham, Egbaston, 
and the townships of Bordesley, Duddeston, and 
Nichels and Deritend : the returning officers are the 
two bailiffs of Birmingham. The local government 
of this town is in the hands of officers chosen an- 
nually ; these consist of two bailiffs, two constables, 
headborough, constable of the hamlet of Deritend, 
two ale conners, two flesh conners. It has no sti- 



180 BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 

penclary, but fourteen of the unpaid magistracy ; the 
former is very much wanted, as, except on the usual 
days of sitting, there is frequently great difficulty in 
finding a magistrate, when required. If we except 
Liverpool, perhaps no place has within the last few 
years improved its trading and commercial relations 
to such an extent as this town. Asa manufacturing 
place it is unrivalled ; but to enumerate its various 
productions would be impossible in this sketch, suf- 
fice it to say, that every thing which can be produced 
from iron, brass, copper, silver, and the various com- 
binations of which these metals are susceptible, may 
be here obtained. In the time of the war, the go- 
vernment contract alone was usually 30,000 muskets 
per month; the manufacture of swords and army 
accoutrements still employs a large number of hands. 
We shall now direct the attention to three establish- 
ments, an inspection of which will give the reader 
an idea of the state of the arts in this important 
manufacturing town. 

Messrs. Collis and CoSs Establishment must be 
visited by every one who intends to have an idea of 
the state of the manufactures in Birmingham. It is 
situated in Church-street, adjoining St. Phillip's 
church-yard. The proprietors, with the greatest 
liberality, have appointed servants to attend visitors 
through the workshops and warehouse-rooms. In 
the former the stranger will see the various processes 
which are necessary to bring the crude metal to the 
forms of singular beauty and elegance with which 
the ware-rooms abound. This establishment has 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. . 181 

produced works of more than ordinary proportions 
and importance, among which may be noticed the 
celebrated Warwick Vase, which is 21 feet in circum- 
ference, and the copper bronze statue of George IV. 
If the reader will refer to the notices at the end of 
this work, he will, however, have a better idea of the 
productions of this magnificent establishment. 

Messrs. Maplebeck and Loitfs Show Rooms now claim 
our attention, and without any intention of detract- 
ing from other establishments, we may with truth 
assert, that a finer exhibition of cutlery and steel 
articles could not be produced, in this or any other 
town ; and the almost endless variety of patterns, in 
which the visitor will see this apparently untractable 
metal formed, will give him a high idea of the state 
of this department of trade in Birmingham. 

Messrs. Jennens and Bettridge's Establishment ex- 
hibits another department in the arts, for which 
Birmingham is now celebrious. A Birmingham 
man and a Birmingham blacksmith were once almost 
synonimous terms ; now the most delicate efforts of 
art are exhibited as the produce of this universal 
manufactory. In the above establishment may be 
seen every variety of article in which the papier mache 
is capable of being produced : elegant tea-trays, 
ladies' work-boxes, and cabinets are exhibited in 
endless variety and beauty. 

We must refer to the notices at the end of the 
work, as our limits forbid further description. In 
these will also be found very much useful information 

R 



182 BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 

respecting the place ; and if the reader has half an 
hour to spare, it could not be more profitably em- 
ployed than in perusing them. 

THE POST OFFICE 

is situated in Bennet-street ; it is a neat erection, 
and has lately been considerably enlarged. 

The following statement shews the time of arrival and 
departure of the various Mails. 

Mem. — 5h. 8m. means 8 minutes past 5, and so on in every other 
instance. 

ARRIVALS. 

Bristol Mail, 5h.8m. A.M. — With Bags from Falmouth, Exeter, Bath, 
Bristol, Gloucester, Dursley, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Wootton, 
Worcester, Droitwich, Broomsgrove. 

London (Carlisle) Mail, 6h. 31m. A.M. — Barnett, St. Albans, North- 
ampton, Toweester. 

London (Holyhead) Mail, 7h. lm. A.M. — Dunchurch, Dunstable, 
Fenny Stratford, Stoney Stratford, Daventry, Coventry. 

Banbu?*y Mail, 7h. 50m. A. M. — Solihull, Warwick, Leamington, 
Southam, Banbury, Buckingham, Brackley, Bicester, Aylesbury, 
Tring, Berkemstead, Hemelhemstead, Watford, Stanmore, Edge- 
ware. 

Tamworth Mail, lOh. A. M. — Tamworth. 

Chipping -Norton Mail, lOh. 23m. A.M. — Chipping-Norton, Oxford, 
Shipstone, Stratford-on-Avon, Woodstock. 

First Railway Mail, due llh. 15m. A.M. — Dublin (when the Packet 
reaches Liverpool in time), Liverpool, Manchester, Warrington, 
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Preston Brook, Newcastle, Eccleshall, Stone, 
Stafford, Penkridge, Wolverhampton, Walsall. 

Shrewsbury Mail, 12 Noon. — Bilstone, Shifmal, Shrewsbury. 

Second Railway Mail, due 4h lorn. P.M. — Liverpool, Manchester. 

Warrington, Stafford, Wolverhampton. 

Sheffield Mail, 4h. 25m. P. M<— Barnsley, Chesterfield, Leeds, Shef- 
field, Wakefield, Burton, Derby, Nottingham, Lichfield. 

Yarmouth Mail, 5h. 2m. P. M. — Coventry, Hinckley, Leicester, Gran- 
tham. 
Leamington Mail, 5h. 35m. P.M. — Leamington , Warwick, Solihull. 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 183 

Worcester Mail, 5h. 50m. P. M. — Broomsgrove, Droitwich, Worcester 

5h. 50h. P.M. — Messengers from Great Barr, Oldbury, Hales Owen, 
and Castle Bromwich. 

Stourport Mail, 6h. 30m. P. M. — Dudley, Bewdley, Stourbridge, Kid- 
derminster, Stourport. 

London (via Chester, to Holyhead) Mail, at 6h. 45m. P.M. with a 
foreign bag from London. 

Third Railway Mail, due 7h. 15m. P.M. — Glasgow, Edinburgh, 
Carlisle, Lancaster, Preston, Wigan, Liverpool, Manchester, Pres- 
cot, Warrington, Preston Brook, Chester, Northwich, Middlewich, 
Congleton, Nantwich, Newcastle, Market Draytcn, Stone, Eccle- 
shall, Stafford, Penkridge, Wolverhampton, Walsall. 

Holyhead Mail, 7h. 24m. P. M. — Bilston, Shiffhal, Wellington, Shrews- 
bury, Oswestry, Chirk, Llangollen, Corwen, Bangor, Holyhead. 

Fourth Railway Mail, due llh. 15m. P.M. — Liverpool, Manchester, 
Warrington, Stafford, Wolverhampton. 

DESPATCHES. 

Sheffield Mail, 5h. 38m. A. M.— With Bags for Barnsley, Chesterfield, 
Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, Burton, Derby, Nottingham, Lichfield. 

First Railway Mail, 6h. 45m. A. M. — Walsall, Wolverhampton, Penk- 
ridge, Stafford, Stone, Eccleshall, Newcastle, Market Drayton, 
Congleton, Nantwich, Middlewich, Northwich, Chester, Preston- 
Brook, Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester, Prescot, Wigan, Pres- 
ton, Lancaster, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow. 

Holyhead Mail, 7h. 36m. A. M. — Bangor, Corwen, Chirk, Holyhead, 
Llangollen, Oswestry, Bilstone, Shiffnall, Shrewsbury, Wellington, 
Dublin. 

London (Chester) Mail, at 7h. 38m. A.M., with Letters passing through 

London. 
Yarmouth Mail, 7h. 45m. A. M. — Coventry, Grantham, Hinckley, 

Leicester. 

Worcester Mail, 7h. 45m. A. M. — Broomsgrove, Droitwich, Worcester, 
London Bags for Broomsgrove and Droitivich. 

Leamington Mail, 8h. A. M. — Solihull, Warwick, Leamington. 

Stourport Mail, 8h. A. M. — Dudley, Stourbridge, Bewdley, Kidder- 
minster, Stourport. 

8h. A. M; — Messengers to Great Barr, Oldbury, Sutton, Castle Brom- 
wich, Hales Owen. 

Second Railway Mail, llh. 15m. A. M. — Dublin, Wolverhampton, 
Stafford, Warrington, Prescot, Manchester, Liverpool. 

London Mail, llh. 40m. A.M. — Coventry, Dunchurch, Daventry, 
Dunstable, Towcester, Stoney Stratford, Fenny Stratford, St. 
Albans ; and on Tuesdays and Fridays a Foreign Bag for London, 



184 BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 

Third Railway Mail, 2h. 15m P. M.— Walsall, Wolverhampton, Penk- 
ridge, Stafford, Stone, Eccleshall, Newcastle, Nantwich, Middle- 
wich, Chester, Preston Brook, Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester. 

Chipping-Norton Mail, 3h. P.M. — Chipping-Norton, Oxford, Ship- 
stone, Stratford-on-Avon, Woodstock. 

Shrewsbury, Mail, 3h. 30m. P. M. — Bilston, Shifmall, Shrewsbury. 

Tamworth Mail, 4h. P. M.— Tamworth. 

Fourth Railway Mail, 6h. 45m. P.M. — Wolverhampton, Stafford, 
Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester. 

Banlur^y Mail, 6h. 50m. P.M. — Solihull, Warwick, Leamington, 
Southam, Banbury, Buckingham, Brackley, Bicester, Aylesbury, 
Tring, Berkhamstead, Hemel Hemstead, Watford, Stanmore, Edge- 
ware. 

London (Holyhead) Mail, 7h. 53m. P. M. — Barnet, Dunchurch, Dun- 
stable, Fenny Stratford, St. Albans, Stoney Stratford, Towcester, 
Daventry, Northampton, London. 

Bristol Mail, 8h. P. M. — Falmouth, Exeter, Bath, Bristol, Dursley, 
Gloucester, Cheltenham, Wootton, Droitwich, Tewkesbury, Wor- 
cester, Broomsgrove, Salisbury. 

London Mail, llh. 30m. P. M. — With a second London Bag. 

The Letter-Box closes at 7 A. M. for the despatch of the 
Mails to Holyhead, Yarmouth, Worcester, Leamington, and 
Stonrport; at? P.M. for the despatch of the London and 
Bristol Mails, and half an hour previous to the departure 
of any of the other Mails. 

DELIVERIES. 

The delivery at the Office Window commences at ahout a 
quarter after 8 A. M. with the Letters Drought by the Bris- 
tol, London, and Banbury Mails. Letters brought by the 
other Mails are ready for delivery in 30 minutes after their 
arrival, until 7 P. M., at which period the Delivery Window 
is closed. At half-past 8 P. M. it opens again for the de- 
livery of Letters arriving by the Stourport, third Railway ? 
and Holyhead Mails, and it continues open until 10 P. M # 
There are two general deliveries by Letter Carriers 
throughout the town, the first commencing at a quarter 
after 8 A.M., and the second at a quarter after 5 P.M., 
except on Sundays, when there is no afternoon delivery. 
Any delay in the arrival of a Mail occasions a correspond- 
ing delay in the delivery. 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 185 

We shall now take a hasty sketch of the Town, 
its Public Buildings, Offices, and Institutions. Those 
devoted to the relief of human sorrow and suffer- 
ing, are very considerable, not only in the extent of 
their means but in their number. The fine arts 
are highly cultivated in this town, the importance 
of a school of design, and the cultivation of a 
correct taste, being well appreciated — indeed being 
essential to the prosecution of the extensive and 
elegant manufactures for which it is so deservedly 
celebrated. 

CHURCHES, CHAPELS, &c. &c. 

Birmingham has 12 Churches, all of which are 
within the Archdeaconry of Coventry and diocese 
of Lichfield and Coventry, and the following places of 
worship for various denominations of Dissenters : — 
Independents, 3 ; Baptists, 4 ; Methodists, 3 ; Scotch 
Church, 1; Society of Friends, 1 ; Catholics, 1; Uni- 
tarians, 2 ; Jews, 1. St. Martin's, the original parish 
church, is charged in K.B. £19 13s. 6|d. It has a 
fine spire ; the other portion of it has a mean appear- 
ance. St. Phillip's is the handsomest ecclesiastical 
erection in the town, and being situated in an area 
of four acres, it can be seen to advantage. Several 
of the others are imposing edifices, in which the 
Grecian style principally obtains, but we have not 
here room to notice them separately. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS. 
The Town Hall ranks the first under this head, 
and is a fine erection of the Corinthian order; it is 



186 BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 

open to the inspection of the public, and is one of the 
Lions of Birmingham. It has one room which is 
estimated to contain about 9000 persons, in which is 
perhaps one of the finest organs in the kingdom. In 
this room the Musical Festival is held (the profits of 
which are given to the Dispensary.) 

The Grammar School is a splendid Gothic edi- 
fice, erected from the designs of Mr. Barry, who 
is about to erect the new Houses of Parliament. It 
is situated in New-street, and is one of the most 
splendid erections in the town of Birmingham. It 
was founded in the time of Edward the Fifth; and 
though the original income was not large, its pre- 
sent revenue is estimated at from 5 to £6,000 per 
year. The edifice erected in 1707 has been lately 
removed, and the ground is now occupied by the 
present School. 

The Market Hall is a handsome building, taste- 
fully arranged ; its principal entrance is in High- 
street. It is well supplied, and has every convenience 
for the transaction of business. 

The General Hospital and the General Dis- 
pensary are also handsome erections, as also are se- 
veral others in the following list of public Offices, 
Institutions, and Charities. 

The Public Office and Prison is situated in 
Moor-street. It contains the Police and other Public 
Offices. 

The Assav Office is in Little Cannon-street. Its 
name designates its purpose. 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 187 

The Gun Barrel Proof House is situated in 
B anbury-street, on the banks of the Canal. This is 
a great convenience to the manufactories in Birming- 
ham, and produces a very large revenue. 

The Cavalry Barracks were erected soon after 
the riots in 1791 ; they are situated near Vauxhall ; 
the approach is from Great Brook-street. 

The Charities of Birmingham are too numerous to 
mention. Among the most prominent, however, are 
the following : — 

The General Hospital, the Dispensary, the 
Magdalen Institution, the Workhouse, Linch's 
Trust, Fentham's Trust, the Asylum, Deaf and 
Dumb School, &c, &c. 

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS. 

Birmingham has a Philosophical Society, situ- 
ated in Cannon-street; a Royal Medical School, 
in Paradise-street; a Horticultural Society, in 
the Gardens of which are extensive conservatories 
and hot-houses, situated in the parish of Edgbaston. 

A Society of Arts, situated in New-street, and 
one of the handsomest architectural specimens which 
the town affords. It has a splendid portico of the 
Corinthian order. This institution has been of great 
advantage to the town. 

A Mechanics 5 Institution — but, strange to say, 
in this town of mechanics, it has not a building spe- 
cially devoted to its objects. The classes meet in the 
School Buildings, Old Meeting-street, in which is 



18S 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 



the Library and News-room, and the Lectures are 
delivered at the Theatre of the Philosophical Insti- 
tution, Cannon-street. 

Two Libraries, viz. : — the Old Library, situated 
in Union-street, which contains from 17 to 18,000 
volumes, and has about 600 subscribers. The New 
Library, in Temple-road, West, which has perhaps 
a fourth of the above number of volumes, and 350 
subscribers. Its Library, has, however, been ju- 
diciously selected, and is rapidly increasing. 

A News and Commercial Room, situated on 
Bennett's Hill. It is well supplied with newspapers 
and publications relating to commerce. 

The Blue Coat School is situated in St. Phillip's 
Churchyard. It is supported by subscriptions and 
endowments. In it are 110 boys and 50 girls, 
clothed and educated. 

Birmingham has also to boast of a National 
School; Protestant Dissenters' School; a Lan- 
casterian School; two Infant Schools, and many 
Sunday Schools. 



HOTELS AND COACH OFFICES. 

The principal Hotels are the following : — Albion, 
High-street, Coach, Family, and Commercial; Castle, 
High-st., Coach, Family, and Commercial; George, 
Digbeth, Commercial ; Hen and Chickens, New- 
street, Coach, Family, and Commercial ; King's Head, 
Worcester-street, Commercial ; Lamp Tavern, Bull- 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 189 

street * ; Nelson, High-street, Coach, Family, and 
Commercial; Pump, Commercial; Royal, Temple- 
row, Family Hotel ; New Royal, New-street, Family 
Hotel ; Saracen's Head, Bull-street, Coach, Family, 
and Commercial ; St. George's Tavern, High-street, 
Coach, Family, and Commercial ; Swan, High-street 
and New-street, Family and Commercial ; Stork, 
Old-square, Family and Commercial ; Union, Union- 
street, Commercial ; Vauxhall Hotel ; White Hart, 
Digbeth, Commercial ; Wool Pack, Moor-street, 
Commercial. 

€f)e <Srantr Jfuucttou 1£atltoa2 <£flKce 
is at present at Vauxhall. For Regulations, Time 
of Starting, &c. see page 11. 

£tje Hontron antr 23trmtttgf)am 2£ailtoag (Bf&tt, 
for the present, is in Waterloo-street. 

HACKNEY COACHES. 

COACH, 2 HORSES. DC, I HORSE. 



'Jot exceeding 


half a mile Is 


Od. .. 


.. Is 


Oc 


>t n 


a niile 1 


6 .. 


.. 1 





a a 


a mile and a half 2 


.. 


.. 1 


6 


a a 


two miles 2 


6 .. 


.. 2 





a a 


three miles 3 


6 .. 


..' 3 





a a 


four miles 5 


.. 


.. 4 






Returning with the same fare, half the above. The Coach- 
man at liberty to charge by time or distance : 20 minutes, 
6d. ; 40 minutes, Is.; and from between 12 at night and 6 in 
the morning, double fares. 

Canal and Waggon Carriage is so seldom wanted by a 
stranger, that it is here omitted. 

* We mention it for the singular fact, that a substantial dinner is set 
out for Is. per head. Short Stages start from this Tavern. 



190 BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 



BANKERS. 



Birmingham Bankers. 
Attwoods, Spooner, & Co.,New-st. 
Birmingham Banking Company. 

Ditto Borough Bank. 

Ditto Branch Lichfield, &c. 

Ditto Branch Bank of Eng- 
land. 

Ditto Midland. 

Ditto Town and District, 
Moilliett & Son, Cherry-street. 
National Provincial. 
Savings Bank. 
Taylors & Lloyd's, Dale-end. 



Correspondents in London. 
Spooner, Atwood, & Co. 
Jones, Lloyd, & Co. 
Prescot & Co. 
Sir R. Glyn & Co. 

Bank of England. 
Williams, Deacon, & Co. 
Barclay, Bevan, & Co. 
Sir J. W. Lubbock & Co. 
Hanbury, Taylor, & Lloyds. 






Hanbury & Co. 

BATHS. 

Many of the Hotels have Baths attached to them, 
but the only Public Baths are situated near Small- 
broke-street, out of which there is a passage to the 
Establishment, which is perhaps as complete as any 
in the kingdom. We have not space to describe it, 
but recommend 

THE LADYWELL BATHS to the inspection of 
the public. 

AMUSEMENTS. 

The public amusements in this town are not on a 
very extensive scale, nor indeed are they much pa- 
tronised. The Theatre is a handsome erection, situ- 
ated in New-street, opposite the Post-office. Vaux- 
hall Gardens are at Vauxhall, near the Birmingham 
and Liverpool Railway Station, and are open in the 
summer months. Subscription Balls and Concerts 
are occasionally held at the Royal Hotel ; there are 
usually several concerts in the season, and of a very 
high character. The Balls also are very select. 



BIRMINGHAM GUIDE. 191 

NEWSPAPERS. 
The circulation attached to each paper is taken 
from the Stamp Office returns, from the 1st of Janu- 
ary to the 30th of June, 1837. 

Monday.. Aris's Gazette. An old-established paper, 
decidedly Conservative, but containing no 
original political articles. Circulation, 3,153 
per week. 

Thursday. .Herald (The). Devoted to business only. It 
is gratuitously circulated, and contains, in ad- 
dition to the advertisements, commercial and 
other information required by men of busi- 
ness ; no party politics are admitted. The 
circulation is 4,769 copies per week. 

Advertiser (The). Tory; a violent partisan. 

Circulation, 961 per week. 

Philanthropist (The). Philosophically Ra- 
dical ; a zealous advocate of the voluntary 
system. Circulation, 346 per week. 

Saturday, Journal (The). Thoroughly Radical ; the organ 
of the Political Union. Its articles are gene- 
rally terse and vigorous. Circulation, 2,115 
per week. 

We shall now close our remarks on this extensive 
and most remarkable manufacturing town by direct- 
ing our readers' attention to the following objects 
which are deserving of notice, but for a description 
of which we have not space in this edition. 

Nelson's Monument, situated in High-street. 

The Old Roman Road (Icknield-street), now 
Monument-lane. At Sutton Coldfield Heath, a place 
about seven miles distant, this road may be distinctly 
traced for three miles ; it is well worthy of a visit. 

Perrott's Folly, Monument-lane. 

The Parthenon, in New-street, and the group of 
buildings lately erected on Bennett's Hill. 



192 STATEMENT. 

The following interesting statement of the Grand 
Juncton Railway Company was received too late to 
be inserted in the body of the work. 

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure to June 30th, 1837. 
Capital, £90. called on 10,400 Shares £936,000 
513 Warrington and Newton Shares, 
at par of £100 51,800 

£987,800 

Less sums expended by the late Liver- 
pool and Birmingham and Birming- 
ham and Liverpool Companies, 
previously to the formation of this 
Company, in their unsuccessful 
endeavour to obtain an Act of In- 
corporation 26,225 16 5 

£961,574 3 7 

Loans £491,957 

Amount borrowed to replace loans — 
notice to repay which has been given 45,000 

536,957 

Interest on Back Account and from 
Exchequer Bills 9,233 1 

Due to Contractors — Balance of reserves 4,385 15 9 

£1,512,150 4 

EXPENDED. ' ' 

Parliamentary Expenses £22,757 10 4 

Land and Compensation 211,230 6 11 

Law Charges, Conveyancing, Stamps, &c, together 

with payments for Advertising, Travelling, and 

other expences and disbursements connected with 

the Law Department and Parliamentary Business 20,794 3 

Contracts for Works 748,698 5 3 

Engineering and Surveying Expences 23,823 18 3 

General Charges and Office Expenses, including 

Advertising, Printing, Rent, Treasurer's and 

Clerks' Salaries, &c 4,551 5 10 

Direction 3,134 5 

Travelling 1,240 15 2 

Stations 8,222 7 11 

Locomotive Engines and Tenders 17,141 

Building Carriages and Waggons 65,849 8 

Rails, Chairs, and Keys 254,426 3 9 

Sundry Disbursements connected with Coaching 

Establishment 192 10 

Purchase of Warrington and Newton Line, less 

Surplus Income 65,479 6 

Interest on Loans 22,270 18 3 

Cash in Bankers' hands 25,835 17 4 

Arrears of Calls, less amount of Warrington and 

Newton Interest not vet called for 16,502 18 7 



£1,512,150 4 



INDEX. 



Page 

Abernethy (educated at) 117 

Acton Station and Township 47 

Altringham 35 

Anson (Viscount) 105 

Apsley Hall 113 

Aqualate Hall 121 

Assay Office (Birmingham) 187 

Ashley (Hamlet of) 84 

Aston Hall (Cheshire) 45 

Hall (Warwickshire) 139 

Viaduct— Village of 138 

Assembly Rooms (Manchester) 174 

Bankers (Liverpool) 154 

(Manchester) 1 70 

(Birmingham) 1 89 

Basford Hall , 65 

Baths (Liverpool) 156 

( Manchester) 1 74 

( Birmingham) 1 90 

Bazaar (Manchester) 174 

Bear and Bible 61 

BentleyHall 124 

Bescott Hall, and Bridge Station 126 

Betley Parish— Hall— Court and Mere 67, 71 

Bilston 123 

(Fire in Coal Pit at) 124 

Bird's Wood 45 

Birmingham Guide 1 76 

Battle of 178 

■ Riots 179 

Blue Coat School (Birmingham) 188 

S 



11. INDEX. 

Page 

Bog Hall 78 

Bolton and Watt 137 

Bostock Hall 54 

Botanic Garden (Liverpool) 157 

(Manchester) 175 

Brewood 112 

Bridgenorth 119 

Burslem « 75 

Bushbury (Village of) 114 

Cannock and Chace 108, 109 

Car Fares (Liverpool) 153 

(Manchester) 170 

( Birmingham) 189 

Cavalry Barracks (Birmingham) 187 

Cemetery (Manchester) 1 72 

Cemeteries (Liverpool) 157 

Chantrey (Monument by) 84 

Chapels (Liverpool) 162 

(Manchester) 171 

(Birmingham) 185 

Chapel (Chorlton) 83 

Charitable Institutions (Manchester) 173 

— — (Liverpool) 163 

Charities (Birmingham) 187 

Cheadle 88 

Cheshire (Entrance of) 37 

Chester (City of) ,.., 39 

Chetham Library (Manchester) 172 

Chillington Hall (T. W. Giffard, Esq.) 113 

Chorley Mount 133 

Churches (Manchester) 171 

Churches and Chapels (Birmingham) 185 

Churches (Liverpool) 162 

Civil War (Incident in) 60, 66, 81, 87 

Cliefden 52 

Club-house (Manchester) 174 

Coach Offices (Birmingham) 188 

— (Manchester) 169 

(Liverpool) 1 53 



INDEX, 111. 

Page 

Cobridge , 77 

Collis and Co.'s Establishment (Birmingham) ..... 180 

Concert Hall (Manchester) 174 

Congleton 61 

Congreve, Sir William (Educated at) 117 

Coppenhall Station and Township 57 

Crewe Hall (Account of) 63 

Station and Township 58 

Custom House (Liverpool) 157 

Curious Echo 107 

Darlaston „ 125 

Daresbury Hall 43 

David Llewelyn (Death of) 38 

Delamere (Lord ) 53 

Docks— Dock Office 157, 158 

Doddington Hall and Park (Account of ) 66 

Dunston 106 

Dudley, and Castle 128 

Drayton, or Market Drayton 8 L 

Eardwick (Sampson) 91, 98 

Eaton Hall 54 

Eccleshall, and Castle 86, 87 

Elms (The) . 23 

Embankments 102, 103, 107, 111, 138 

Etruria , 75 

Excavations , 68, 82, 121, 122, 133, 135 

Exchange ( Manchester) 171 

(Liverpool) 161 

Excise Office 157 

Fenton (Elijah) 75 

Fishing 47, 137 

Ford Houses (Village of) 114 

Foreign Packets 152 

Four Ashes Station 1 J 2 

Frodsham 38 

General Hospital (Birmingham) 186 

Dispensary (Birmingham) 186 



IV. INDEX. 

Page 

Grafton Wood 67, 68 

Grammar School (Birmingham) 186 

Grand' Junction Railway Office (Birmingham) .... 189 

Grange Hall 48 

Gun Barrel Proof House (Birmingham) 187 

Hackuey Coach Fares (Liverpool) 153 

(Manchester) 170 

(Birmingham) 189 

Hales Owen 129 

Halton Castle 36 

Hamstead Hall 135 

Handsworth J 36 

Hauley , 73 

Hartford Excavation, Station, and Township 48 

Hatton Mill 84 

Hill Cliff Quarry 36 

Hotels, Liverpool 154 

Hotels, Manchester 169 

Hotels 188 

Haugh House 1 03 

Hounds 68, 82, 121 

House of Industry, Liverpool 1 62 

James Bridge Station 125 

Jennens and Beltridge's Establishment, Birmingham 181 

Infirmary, Liverpool 1 62 

Ingestrie Hall 103 

Journey to Newton 18 

Newton to Manchester 22 

■ Newton Junction Station 22 

Birmingham 28 

Knutsford 50 

Lane Delph 77 

Lane-end and Long Town 76 

Lea Hall 136 

Lear Hall 56 

Leek 79 



INDEX. V. 

Page 

Libraries (Liverpool) 164 

(Manchester) 172 

(Birmingham) 188 

Lichfield 99 

Cathedral 101 

Literary and Scientific Institutions, (Liverpool) . . 164 

(Manchester).. 173 

(Birmingham) 187-8 

Liverpool Guide 1 45 

Origin of name 1 45 

Posfi-Office 148 

Long Port, &c. &c 76 

London and Birmingham Railway Office (Birming- 
ham) 189 

Low Hill (Mr. Pountuoy) 114 

Lunatic Asylum ( Liverpool) 162 

Macclesfield , 61 

Maer Hall 83 

Madeley Station and Parish 69 

Manchester Guide 166 

Post-Oflace 168 

Manor Hall 56 

Maplebeck and Lows' Establishment (Birmingham) 181 

Markets (Liverpool) 1 60 

Markets (Manchester) 175 

Market Hall (Birmingham) , 186 

Marriage Custom 51 

Mechanics' Institution (Liverpool) 164 

(Manchester) 1 73 

(Birmingham) 188 

Middlewich 55 

Minshall Vernon Station and Township 5H 

Mill Meese 85 

Moilton Village 53 

Moore Statiou, and Village 37 

Moore Hall 42 

Moseley Hall 1 14 

Moss ( Whitmore) 77 

Mount (The) 157 






VI. INDEX. 

Page 

Nantwich 58 

Natural Phenomenon 80 

New Bailey Prison (Manchester) 175 

Newcastle-under-Lyne 69 

Newport 96 

Newspapers 1 65 

— (Manchester) 175 

(Birmingham) , 191 

Northwich 49 

Norton 86 

Norton Priory, account of 43 

Nixon's Prophecies 53 

Oxley Hall (the late Mr. Huskisson) 114 

Penkridge 108 

Perry-bar Station 136 

Perrott's Folly (Birmingham) 191 

Perry Hall 135 

Pic-nic Parties 47 

Portico (Manchester) 172 

Post-Office (Birmingham) 182 

Potteries ; and original seat of 75 

Preston Brook Station and Township 44 

Prince's Parade (Liverpool) 156 

Public Offices (Birmingham) 187 

Pumps on the Road 110 

Queen Elizabeth, and Queen of Charles 1 131 

RACES 143 

Railway, account of its Regulations 11 

First application to Parliament 2 

Time of Starting 14 

Fares, Charges 15, 16, 17. 151 

Time on Road to each Station 16, 17 

Highest and Lowest Point 104 

Railway — Particulars of Cost 1 92* 

Rickersford 105 

Roman Road (Birmingham) 191 



INDEX. Vll. 

Page 

Rowley House 1 03 

Royal Institution (Manchester) 173 

Rugeley » . . . 98 

Runcorn 34 

Salt, first place in which made. .......••*' 59 

Salt Mines— Works 50, 54 

Sandbach 60 

Sandon 98 

Sandwell Park 135 

Seighford Hall, and Meadows 91 

Shelton 74 

Shenstone (The Poet) 129 

Shiffnal 118 

Shugborough Park (Account of) 105 

Slade Heath 114 

Soho 1 36 

Sessions House (Liverpool) 161 

Spread Eagle Station Ill 

Somerford Hall 1 13 

Staffordshire (Entrance of) 68 

Stafford 93 

Castle 92 

Standeford (Village of) 113 

Standon and Standon Cottage 85 

Statue of George III. (Liverpool) 161 

Steam Packets 152 

Stoke-upon-Trent 72 

Stone 87 

Summary of Works on the Line 141 

Sutherland (Duke of) 82 

Swinnerton Park 82 

Hall 85 

Taming a Shrew 71 

Tarporley 51 

Tiddesley Hall 106 

Telegraph Office (Liverpool) 162 

Theatres (Liverpool) 155 

—(Manchester) 174 



V1U. INDEX. 

Pa, 

Theatre (Birmingham) 19 c 

Town Hall (Liverpool) ] 6 '• 

(Manchester) 171 

(Birmingham) 186 

Trentham (Hamlet of) 79 

(Seat of Duke of Sutherland 82 

Tunnel (Grand Trunk Canal) 76 

Tuustan Court 76 

Uti »xeter 97 

Vale Royal &$ 

Abbey and Viaduct 

Vauxhall Gardens (Birmingham) 

Station I 

Viaduct (Birmingham) 

(over Penk) 

f Dutton) dpl ? 

( Warrington) 

(Vale Royal) 

Walsall 

Warrington Station and Town 32 

Wedgwood (Josiah) 73 

Wednesbury 127 

Whitmore 78 

Wellington Rooms ( Liverpool) 156 

Willenhall Station and Parish 1 22 

Winsford Station 55 

Lodge 

Winwick <iu 

Wolverhampton (Town of). — Station 115 

Woore 77 

Wrine Hall 6S 

Zoological Gardens 15*# 



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